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Do you remember when your last dental appointment took place? If it was more than six months ago, you might be putting your oral health at risk. There are many reasons why it is important to see your dentist regularly, with many professionals recommending a visit twice a year. Here are just a few of the benefits of attending regular family dentist appointments.

10 Reasons Why It’s Important to See Your Dentist

1. Prevent Future Issues

Almost all oral health issues start off as small problems that can easily go unnoticed. Early gum disease and small cavities are not obvious and rarely hurt. This does not mean that they do not need treatment. Getting regular dental checkups allows your family dentist to use their expertise to help you minimize your risk of future problems. The sooner any oral health issues are identified, the easier they are to treat and eliminate.

2. Save Your Teeth

You only get one set of adult teeth to last your entire life, so it makes sense to do everything you can to preserve them. Seeing your dentist regularly is key to making this happen. The longer you go between dental checkups, the more likely it is that you will develop gum disease, cavities, or other oral health issues. Over time, these problems will get worse. Eventually, they may cost you your teeth. Getting quality preventive care from your dentist is the best way to ensure that this does not happen.

3. Education on Good Dental Hygiene

We all know that we should brush our teeth twice a day and floss, but there is much more to optimal dental hygiene than that. Should you brush before or after you eat breakfast? Should you floss before or after you brush? What kind of toothpaste is best for your needs?

Your family dentist in Mississauga can answer all of these questions and more. They can also offer guidance on your specific brushing technique, pointing out areas that you miss the most based on the plaque build-up on your teeth.

4. Help with Other Oral Health Issues

Did you know that problems like teeth grinding and sleep apnea can be diagnosed and treated by dentists? These issues are oral health problems, just like cavities and gum disease. Your dentist can help you figure out why you are experiencing these problems and offer you some treatment options to address them. If they cannot solve the problem on their own, they will refer you to a specialist who can provide you with further assistance.

5. Treat Bad Breath

Bad breath is a common problem that can be devastating to your social life and self-esteem. While the solution is sometimes as simple as avoiding certain foods or brushing a little more frequently, you could also struggle with these issues due to untreated oral health problems.

Tonsil stones or advanced dental decay and gum disease can cause you to develop a foul odour in your mouth that will not respond to conventional breath freshening measures. Your dentist can help you resolve the underlying issues behind your bad breath and put this problem to rest for good.

6. Give You Peace of Mind

Severe oral health problems can be devastating to your health, your comfort, and even your wallet. Visiting your dentist regularly is the best way to protect yourself from these impacts. Your family dentist is trained to identify oral health problems before they progress into major issues like periodontitis or dental abscesses. You will always know exactly what is going on in your mouth and have the opportunity to address any problems before they develop into something worse.

7. Help Prevent Cavities

Cavities do not appear overnight. They start off small and slowly grow larger. In their earliest stages, they are actually reversible. Your dentist will check for new and worsening cavities during each of your dental checkups. They will then give you specific advice based on what they find. They may recommend a fluoride treatment to address some early demineralization or suggest treating a small cavity before it gets the chance to spread further.

8. Help Prevent Gum Disease

Gum disease is an extremely common oral health problem that many people do not take seriously. While early gum disease, known as gingivitis, is reversible, it can quickly progress to periodontitis. At this stage, the bacteria in your gums may begin attacking your jawbone. This causes your bone to degrade and may lead to loose teeth and collapsed facial structures.

To prevent these problems, your dentist will monitor the state of your gums over your checkups. They may recommend measures like more frequent dental cleanings or a subgingival deep cleaning, which reaches below the gum line, to keep any gum disease in check.

9. Help Treat Sensitivity

Sensitive teeth affect countless people, leaving them unable to enjoy hot, cold, or sweet items without pain. Your dentist can address any tooth decay, gum recession, or structural damage that might be causing your sensitivity problems. They can also offer you fluoride treatments that will strengthen your tooth enamel and help keep your teeth safe from unpleasant shocks.

10. Screen for Oral Cancer

Sadly, oral cancer can strike anyone at any age. It is more common among people who smoke or drink excessively, as well as among people who have had the disease before.

If oral cancer is not treated, it can be fatal. Catching it early gives you a much better chance of making a full recovery. Your dentist will perform an oral cancer screening as part of your regular checkups, examining your lips, cheeks, tongue, gums, and even your neck and throat for signs of disease. If they spot anything, they will refer you to another healthcare professional for prompt treatment.

Book an Appointment with the Top Dentist in Mississauga

Seeing your dentist frequently is the best thing you can do for your oral health. Protect your teeth and gums by booking an appointment at Trillium Smile Dentistry, the best family dentist in Mississauga. Contact us today online or by phone to make arrangements for your next dental checkup with our expert team.

Have you booked your next dental checkup yet? If not, you should. There is a good reason that your dentist recommends you visit them for a checkup every six months. These appointments give them the chance to perform many critical tasks that keep your teeth and gums in good shape. Our list of 8 things your
family dentist in Mississauga does during each checkup will help you understand why these biannual trips are so important.

8 Things Your Dentist in Mississauga Does During Checkups

X-Rays

Taking x-rays is the first thing your dentist will do during any checkup. X-rays give dentists valuable insight into how the soft and hard tissues of your mouth are faring in areas they cannot see first-hand. X-ray imaging can identify tooth decay, bone loss, tumours, impacted teeth, and other serious problems. Getting regular checkups is key to catching these issues early and mitigating their destructive potential.

Comprehensive Visual Exam

Once your x-rays are done, your dentist will look at the inside of your mouth. Using their trained professional eye, they will look for damaged dental work, gum disease, visible signs of tooth decay, and other red flags that may indicate an oral health problem. They may also measure the depth of your gum pockets with a special probe to determine the severity of any gum disease.

Bite Evaluation

The way your teeth meet when you close your mouth is called your bite. Your dentist will check your bite to make sure that none of your teeth are under too much pressure during normal speaking and eating. They will also look for evidence of a shifting bite that might become a problem soon. If they find any issues, they may recommend orthodontic treatment to address them.

Salivary Gland Inspection

Adequate saliva production is critical to good oral health, so dentists look at your salivary glands as part of the checkup process. They examine the glands for signs of problems, such as swelling or abnormal coloration. They also gauge how much saliva your glands can produce. If they are not satisfied with the results, they may order further tests or offer advice on how to stimulate those glands and boost their productivity.

Tongue Evaluation

The condition of your tongue can tell your dentist a lot about your oral health and even your general health. Your dentist will check its colour, texture, and size during your checkup to see if anything is amiss. If they observe signs that point to possible health conditions like diabetes or vitamin B12 deficiency, they will let you know so you can see your doctor for treatment.

Early Detection

Dentists are trained to care for a wide variety of oral health issues, and they use checkups as an opportunity to keep on top of these things. Your dentist will look for indications of severe problems like oral cancer, nerve damage, and impacted wisdom teeth, as well as cavities and gum disease. They will also evaluate how well attached your teeth are to your gums and bone. If any are loose, they may be able to initiate treatment that will reattach it and avoid irreversible tooth loss.

Oral Cancer Screening

One of the most important duties a dentist has is to check their patients for oral cancer. This cancer can develop anywhere along the lips, gums, tongue, the insides of your cheeks and throat, and the roof and floor of your mouth.

Your dentist will look for telltale signs of the condition, such as white patches and abnormal growths, but you should let them know if you have experienced any problems like tenderness in your mouth or lips, sores that are slow to heal, or a feeling like something is stuck in your throat. The survival rate for this type of cancer is higher the earlier it is caught, so it is important not to overlook this aspect of dental checkups.

Building Rapport

Just like a doctor, a good dentist takes the time to get to know their patients. During your checkups, your dentist will chat with you to learn more about your personality and oral health habits.

Are you a nervous person who needs a gentler approach? Does your oral hygiene need some work, and if so, which challenges are getting in your way? Do you have a family history of oral health conditions like amelogenesis imperfecta? All of these things are important for your dentist to know and can help inform the way they provide your care. This is one of the reasons why it is beneficial to keep seeing the same dentist for many years. Over time, they will come to know all of your quirks and traits, and you will feel more comfortable with them as a result.

Book a Dental Exam with the Best Family Dentist in Mississauga

Dental checkups are extremely important opportunities to evaluate your oral health. They should never be skipped, and your dentist should never rush the process. At Trillium Smile Dentistry, we put your oral health first. We are a leading family and emergency dentist in Mississauga with staff who are trusted by countless patients. Contact us today to book your next dental checkup – when you visit us, you can be sure that you are in good hands.