Any new resident to an area will want to find doctors that will provide them ongoing care. It is important to choose these professionals carefully due to the fact that you will be entrusting them with your well being, you will be taking their advice and allowing them to make decisions on your behalf that will benefit your health. The field of dentistry is no different in this regard than any other caregiver, and as a matter of fact it would be easy to argue that it is even more important to find a dentist that you are comfortable with because you will probably see them more often than other doctors. While it is suggested that you visit your primary care doctor once a year in order to have a checkup, it is suggested that you visit your dentist twice as much as that, if not even more. This is because your dentist plays an additional role in your healthcare over and above just checking you over to make sure everything is fine. A dentist also provides you with the cleanings and ongoing maintenance that is crucial for you to keep your teeth and gums healthy as you age. Tooth degeneration and loss as we age is not inevitable, and the better care you take of your teeth over your lifetime the longer they will last. This means seeing the dentist for regular cleanings as often as possible.
Many people ask if brushing and flossing is enough to keep your teeth clean, and the answer is yes and no. Home care of your mouth will prevent the majority of plaque and bacteria from building up in your mouth and causing problems, however even those who brush and floss regularly will see the buildup of sticky plaque and tartar over time. This will be more pronounced with those who have a diet that includes more sugary and sweet foods, but we are all prone to the buildup over time. The plaque and bacteria builds up in areas that are not able to be reached with your toothbrush and floss on a regular basis, and unfortunately is very difficult to remove by anyone who is not a professional trained in the practice of dentistry. They will remove much more of the damaging buildup than you can yourself, giving you a cleaner environment that will remain stable for a longer period of time. This is the very reason why regular trips to the dentist are necessary to avoid health complications that come with too much bacteria in the mouth.
Your dentist provides a service to you that not only interacts with your overall health and well being when they perform the maintenance that you need, but also screens for other health issues that may not be expected from a dental visit. Issues such as oral cancer can be detected earlier by a dentist than others and in many cases can save lives by being treated before it progresses. This, among many other things, is why it is so important to choose your dentist wisely.
