You’ve probably heard your dentist in El Paso talk about just how important it is to have a dental cleaning and checkup at least twice a year. But why are these regular visits so important? After all, you brush your teeth every day. Isn’t that enough? The truth is, even if you practice great dental hygiene at home, your oral health can change pretty quickly and may even affect your overall wellbeing. 

Preventive Dental Care

Making sure that you brush twice a day and floss once a day is a great way to protect your teeth from the damaging effects of bacteria and acid. However, at-home oral hygiene can’t remove stubborn plaque buildup or help treat gum disease, both of which can have a serious effect on oral and overall health. Let’s take a look at some of the ways visiting your dentist bi-annually can help protect you. 

• Remove Plaque. As we mentioned above, at-home brushing and flossing can’t remove plaque. Why is that a problem? Well, plaque buildup is one of the top contributors to decay and, therefore, cavities or perhaps the need for a root canal. Removing this sticky stuff can help keep teeth healthy. That’s why dental cleanings are so important.

• Check for Cavities. The most common reason for professional dental cleanings and checkups is to make sure that there are no signs of potential problems. Cavities, for example, can start slowly, and you may not even know it. However, by keeping up with your dental appointments every six months, your dental team can catch decay and treat it quickly before it starts to cause pain or requires more in-depth treatment. 

• Catch & Treat Gum Disease. Gum disease affects nearly half of Americans over the age of 30, according to the CDC. Gum disease is a potentially serious infection in the gums that, if left untreated in its early stages, can quickly progress into a non-reversible disease. But that’s not all. Gum disease can lead to tooth loss as well as overall health concerns.

• Monitor Overall Health. Believe it or not, there is a strong link between oral health and overall health. Gum disease, for example, is a disease that may not show symptoms or those that do present themselves are often considered not to be serious. However, not only can gum disease cause problems in the mouth, but it can also increase someone’s risk of heart disease, respiratory disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Additionally, whole-body health problems may first show signs in the mouth including diabetes, certain cancers, and kidney disease. Seeing your dentist in El Paso every six months for a cleaning and checkup can help identify your risk and get treatment early before your overall wellness is put at risk. 

Keeping up with your dental appointments can do more for you than simply protecting your smile. These visits are also an important part of protecting your overall health. Don’t put yourself at risk, see your dentist regularly.