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Reasons to Visit the Dentist

By Joe Devine

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Published: 17Jan2008
Word count: 721
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Recently, there have been links established that tie bad oral hygiene to heart disease and other cardiovascular problems. For example, periodontitis, or gum disease, has been shown to triple the chances of heart disease, strokes, and diabetes. Also, good oral hygiene is known to reduce the incidence of some cardiac infections such as bacterial endocarditis.

The reasons for regular visits to a dentist are unlimited. The top ten reasons to see a dentist are below.

The Top 10

1. Prevents Oral Cancer

According to the American Oral Cancer Society, a person dies from oral cancer in the United States every hour of every day. This is extremely sad because oral cancer is extremely curable if caught early. Whenever a person visits their dentist, they are not only having their teeth cleaned or having x-rays of their teeth taken. They are also being screened for oral cancer at the same time. So while visiting the dentist may not technically prevent oral cancer, it does prevent it from going undetected.

2. Prevents Gum Disease

Gum disease, as was stated earlier, has been linked to heart disease, strokes, and diabetes. What easier way is there of preventing these things than brushing your teeth at least twice a day as well as flossing and visiting a dentist? When a person visits the dentist, the dentist can check for signs of gum disease such as inflamed gums or gums that aren't quite pink along the edges. Gum disease itself is an infection of the gums and is one of the leading causes of adult tooth loss and decay.

3. Prevents the Loss of Teeth

Visiting the dentist allows the dentist to check to make sure that a person's teeth are healthy and not cavity infested. If there is something wrong, such as gum disease, the dentist can recommend a treatment plan, generally more brushing and flossing, that can reverse gum disease and prevent tooth loss. If a person has all of their teeth, chewing and overall health are known to be better.

4. Detects Dental Problems Early

Your dentist and hygienist can detect problems early. When problems are detected early, they can be reversed or easily treated. If problems are not detected early, much more serious solutions will be necessary. These serious solutions include root canal, gum surgery, and tooth extractions.

5. Maintains Good Oral Health

Your dentist will compare your current teeth with information recorded during previous visits. If oral hygiene is slacking, the dentist will put you back on the right track. Good oral hygiene is necessary to the prevention of gum disease and cavities.

6. Prevents Bad Breath

Studies have shown that 85% of people that have persistently bad breath have an underlying dental problem that is to blame. Your dentist will be able to identify and then to correct this underlying problem which will then prevent bad breath.

7. Have a White Smile

Your dental hygienist is able to remove the majority of coffee and tobacco stains while in the office. They also polish your teeth to a shine while there which creates a bright, white smile. While not nearly as important as preventing gum disease, this too is an important part of a visit to the dentist because it affects how a person feels.

8. Maintains Good Physical Health

When a person cannot chew correctly due to sore or broken teeth, it affects the body's ability to digest food is diminished. This leads to less absorption of minerals and other nutrients that are in the food. Overall, having good oral health contributes to good physical health.

9. Creates a Treatment Plan

When your dentist diagnoses a problem with your teeth, they will recommend a treatment plan. This will most likely prevent the problem from getting worse as well as sometimes even reversing the damage.

10. Use an Insurance Plan

A general dentist insurance plan will usually cover the majority of fees associated with a regular cleaning. The plan generally will cover a lot of other fees that are incurred when the dentist is visited. If those aren't good enough reasons, a person pays for the plan so they may as well use it.

Overall, the benefits to visiting a dentist at regular intervals will greatly exceed the costs. It is important for a person's overall health to visit the dentist.

Joe Devine For more information, visit http://www.dentistwausau.com

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