5 Reasons Why Dental Exams Are Important for Your Oral Health
What are Dental Exams?
Dental exams are an important part of maintaining good oral health. This is because they can find problems before they become more serious and could cause pain or other issues. Scheduling a dental exam every six months is a good idea for people who want to maintain good oral health.
Dental exams are a standard checkup for our practice dentistry. Through dental checkups, we can determine the health of your teeth and gums and the risk for future dental problems. The dentist will use an explorer to feel for any abnormalities in the tooth.
What Can You Expect During Your Regular Dental Checkup?
Our Lewisville dentist discusses your medical background and examines your oral health during your dental exam. He talks to you about any medications you take, allergies, or other factors that may affect your teeth.
The dentist will assess the teeth, gums, jaw, and mouth for signs of decay. Oral cancer screening is also done to check for signs of lacerations and immobile tissues. The dentist or hygienist will then clean the teeth and gum line to remove tartar from the teeth, and finally, he will polish the teeth.
Why are Dental Exams Crucial to Your Oral Health?
A dental exam is an oral exam that identifies problems with your teeth, gums, and jaw. Several reasons why it is important to visit a dentist near you for assessment include:
1. Detects Decay and Cavities
Decay and cavities form when bacteria and other microorganisms eat sugars and carbohydrates in the mouth, which break down to produce acid. This acid reacts with the tooth enamel and can lead to cavities.
Many factors can cause decay. For example, poor oral hygiene habits, such as not brushing or flossing, can cause decay. Eating sugary foods or drinks too often can also lead to cavities because of the high sugar content in these foods. Unfortunately, decay develops with no visible symptoms until in the advanced stages. The best way to detect decay on time is by visiting a dentist for an assessment.
2. Prevents Gum Disease
Gum disease, an inflammatory condition, affects the tissues surrounding the teeth. It can be caused by bacteria found in plaque– a sticky film made up of food particles and saliva that constantly forms on the teeth. When plaque is not removed through daily brushing and flossing, it turns into tartar. Tartar provides bacteria room to grow and produce toxins that irritate gums, leading to inflammation.
Gum disease starts with gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums caused by plaque buildup around teeth. Gingivitis left untreated develops into periodontitis, which leads to loss of teeth.
3. Detects Early Signs of Oral Cancer
Oral cancer screening is a test to find oral cancer in its early stages. It looks for signs of cancer or precancerous lesions on the lips, tongue, and throat. The test is not painful and does not use x-rays or radiation.
Oral cancer screening is done by a dental professional using a mirror and a light to look for abnormalities in the mouth.
Oral Cancer Foundation recommends getting oral cancer screening, especially if you are at risk, to increase the chances of surviving it.
4. Keeps Bad Habits at Bay
Smoking, drinking, eating a high-acid diet, or clenching or grinding your teeth can damage your dental health. Our dentist will check the oral damage caused by these habits.
5. Detects Problems using X-Rays
A dental x-ray helps dentists diagnose problems with the teeth, mouth, or jaw undetectable with regular dental tools. An x-ray can detect impacted teeth, the problem with the jaws, and other abnormal cells before they become an issue.
Schedule an Appointment
Regular dental exams allow you to take the best possible care of your teeth and gums. Call or book an appointment with Arte Dental for more information about dental exams in Lewisville, TX, and other preventive measures you can take to keep your teeth healthy.