5 great reasons to visit your dentist regularly

Going to the dentist is not usually one of the events that people put on their most enjoyable things to do in life. Dentists sure get a bum rap, considering how important their role is. It can’t be fun going out in public, meeting someone for the first time and when they find out you’re a dentist, to hear, “Ewww… I hate dentists!” or a variation thereof.

Do you know how important it is to see your dentist? If not, you’re in luck because I’m going to tell you.

This is a blog about pain - so if you visit your dentist regularly, you just may avoid that pain.

1 - Cancer checks. Oral cancer is not as rare as some people think. According to statistics from 2004 (from the American Cancer Society), there were 10,080 new cases for mouth cancer in the US in 2004, 7320 new cases for tongue cancer, and 8250 new cases for pharynx cancer. According to the Mouth Cancer Foundation, “Oral and pharyngeal cancer is the sixth most common malignancy reported worldwide and one with high mortality ratios among all malignancies.”

I don’t know about you - but I don’t think we need four more reasons. But, in case you do, here they are:

2 - Prevention - 1. By getting your teeth checked on a regular basis, you can decrease the chances of having to have work done to repair your teeth. And if you still need repairs, they are likely to be more limited than if the damage was found later on.

3 - Prevention - 2. Gum disease causes tooth loss. According to the Centers of Disease Control, in the United States, “one-fourth of adults over age 65 have lost all of their teeth—primarily because of tooth decay, which affects more than 90% of adults over age 40, and advanced gum disease, which affects 5%–11% of adults.”

What is important to realize is that you could have gum - or periodontal - disease without knowing it. Studies have shown that gum disease can even affect your heart. Patients who had certain types of gum disease had a higher chance of having atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) in the neck. This can lead to a stroke.

4 - Upkeep. If you have had work done on your teeth years ago, chances are that some of the fillings may need to be replaced or some extra work may need to be done to ensure that all stays well. This can prevent dental emergencies.

5 - You get a really cool toothbrush. Visiting your dentist and your hygienist helps you develop a relationship on both sides. They get to know you and your mouth so if you do have an emergency, they know what is going on. You get to know them and develop a relationship built on trust. Having a dental emergency can be stressful enough but if you have a regular dentist and you have confidence in him or her and the team, the stress level can be lowered considerably.

So, there you have it. And, as luck would have it - I finished writing this post just a few minutes before I have to leave to see my dentist to get a filling. I used to visit this dentist years ago, when I was first out on my own. I was terrified of dentists because of some very bad experiences. This one taught me how to trust him and I can honestly say, that if I do experience any pain, it’s because he can’t avoid it. I left his practice for several years because of a variety of reasons (none to do with him) and went to various dentists, as needed, in my community.

I was never able to get that connection, that sense of trust that I’d had with my earlier dentist. So, late last year, I went back and I’m glad I did.

See you later.

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Image: iStock.com