Dentist examining a patient's teeth in the dentist.

The Most Important Thing You Can Do For Your Teeth: Visit Your Dentist

Do you take proper care of your teeth?  You may think that brushing, flossing and occasionally using mouthwash are the keys to maintaining your oral health and keeping your teeth, but if you are only brushing, flossing and rinsing, you are missing a key component to maintaining the health of your teeth and gums. If you want to exhibit total oral health and wellness the most important thing you can do is visit your dentist. 

Benefits of Visiting Your Dentist 

Regular dental visits are the most important thing you can do for the health of your teeth and gums.  Many dental problems, including gingivitis, cavities and tooth decay cause very few, if any, symptoms in the beginning.  This means you may not realize you have cavities, gingivitis or periodontal disease until they are in the advanced stages.  For this reason, it’s important to schedule frequent checkups every six to 12 months.

Remove Plaque and Tartar

If you are only brushing and flossing and neglecting your trips to the dentist, you may still have plaque and tartar on your teeth.  A professional cleaning by our West Melbourne dentist will remove all the plaque and tartar from your teeth and below the gum line where toothbrushes and floss cannot reach.  Most dental hygiene products, including manual and electric toothbrushes and regular floss and flossers, can only reach about three millimeters below the gum line.  The early stages of gum disease start when there are pockets between your teeth and gums that are four millimeters deep.  This means that you will not be able to reach those deeper pockets, and in order to completely clean them, it will require a trip to the dentist.

Check the Health of Your Teeth and Gums

A dental checkup always includes examining your teeth and gums for tooth decay, cavities and signs of gingivitis and periodontal disease.  According to the CDC, 47.2 percent of American adults have periodontal disease.  Regular oral health examinations and teeth cleanings can help catch periodontal disease before it results in loose teeth and tooth loss as well as cavities.

Maintain Your Overall Health

Clean teeth and healthy gums can help you maintain your overall health. If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, these conditions can negatively affect the health of your teeth and gums.  Getting more frequent cleanings along with managing your chronic conditions can help you keep your teeth.  Bad oral health has also been linked to an increased risk for heart disease, according to WebMD.

Correct Crooked Teeth and Improper Bites

If you have crooked, gapped or crowded teeth and/or an improper bite, a dental checkup can locate these problems so that a treatment plan can be created.  Crooked, gapped and crowded teeth and improper bites can lead to a variety of problems, including creating additional hard to reach places in your mouth and/or causing difficulty with chewing or mouth pain.

Keep Your Teeth White

Over time, staining from certain foods and drinks, like coffee, soda, and berries, can cause your teeth to yellow or stain and negatively affect your appearance.  You may even feel self-conscious.  Regular teeth cleanings can help remove stains and keep your teeth looking white.  If you have severe staining or severely discolored teeth, veneers or teeth whitening can help.

Keep Your Breathe Smelling Fresh

Cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease can lead to chronic bad breath that is only temporarily helped by mouthwash and breath fresheners.  Having your teeth regularly cleaned and getting cavities and tooth decay treated can help keep your breath smelling clean.

Maintaining Your Oral Health with Our Melbourne Florida Dentist

Getting back on track with your oral health is as easy as scheduling an appointment with our Melbourne Florida dentist.  We offer preventative services, like teeth cleanings and examinations.  We can whiten your teeth and fill and restore teeth that have cavities.  We can even seal your teeth with dental sealant, and if you are missing teeth, we offer crowns, bridges, and dentures.

To learn more about our dental services and to schedule an appointment, call our office at 321-724-1400.