Early Detection

Your family dentist is not only looking to see how well you’ve brushed and flossed. Your dental exam gives your dentist a comprehensive overview of your oral health.

By taking those uncomfortable x-rays and performing a visual exam of your mouth, your dentists is examining your mouth for signs of decay, infection, or even oral cancers. Early detection can save your teeth…or your life!

Plaque Removal

Plaque removal alone should be a motivator to get you into see your Humble Tx dentist!

Plaque is a sticky substance that develops due to naturally-occurring bacteria in your mouth. Left unchecked, plaque can cause tooth decay, gum disease like gingivitis, dull looking teeth, bad breath, and lead to tooth loss.

In the long term, the bacteria in plaque can release toxins to your arteries and even cause a heart attack or stroke.

Of course, you brush and floss at home. However, you cannot remove all the plaque buildup at home. Expert plaque removal every 6 months is one significant key to keeping your teeth healthy.

Whiter Teeth

Are dull, yellowed, or gray-looking teeth a concern for you? You are probably experiencing either tooth staining or a thinning of the tooth enamel. At home whitening products may help with staining, but they won’t help with thinning enamel. In fact, home whitening kits are not at all effective for thinning enamel and could even be causing your teeth more harm than good.

A visit to your dentist can help you determine the best treatment to restore your teeth to their former pearly white glory.

Gum Health

Gums that appear red or swollen or bleed easily are among the first signs of gingivitis, a bacterial gum disease.

Here’s what we hear from patients. Their gums bleed, so flossing is uncomfortable. They stop flossing to avoid the pain. Then, the gums become more inflamed because the plaque is not being removed through regular flossing.

If you don’t detect and treat gingivitis early, it can lead to a more advanced gum disease called periodontitis.

Once you reach that stage, you are facing serious consequences such as tooth loss, as your gum tissue is what holds your teeth in place! Therefore, resolving mild gingivitis early can preserve your teeth.

At your 6-month exam, your dentist will advise you on what you can do at home to help reverse this disease and recommend products to help you care for your tender and swollen gums comfortably. Also, she may prescribe an antibiotic to clear up a more severe infection.

Fresher Breath

A common complaint that our patients talk to us about is bad breath. Fortunately, most cases of halitosis (bad breath) are caused by poor oral hygiene.

The root cause is decaying food lodged in between the teeth. As the food deteriorates, it gives off methane, a natural gas. This causes that all-too-familiar bad breath smell.

Your dentist can remove that decaying food, share any new oral hygiene tips, and coach you on preventing the problem from recurring during your exam.

Save Time in the Future

If you’ve skipped your dental exam to save time, you might actually be costing yourself more time in the future! If you can work with your dentist to find problems and tackle them head on, you will spend less time in the family dentist’s chair.

After all, the time it takes for a 6-month cleaning and oral exam is far less time than the time it will take to have that appointment plus having restorative treatments performed!

The Takeaway

If you’ve skipped your dental exam, it’s urgent to get yourself back into the chair. Your six-month dental check-ups are important to your overall oral health, an improved appearance, and will help you enjoy your teeth for your entire life!

Plus, you’ll eventually find that your regular exam can actually save you time in the long run. Feel free to give us a call or setup your Humble Tx dentist appointment online I hope to see you soon!