One of the top priorities of dentistry is to fight cavities. Your teeth are essential for eating your favorite foods and showing off a bright smile, and cavities put you at risk of losing your pearly whites. Fortunately, regular visits to your dentist can keep your teeth healthy.
You can take care of your teeth at home, and you absolutely should; flossing and brushing are a huge part of maintaining good oral hygiene. However, no matter how attentive you are or how effective your electric toothbrush is, there is bound to be a spot you miss. Dentists can clean these areas, ensuring they do not develop cavities there.
Tartar is the name for built-up plaque that has hardened. It is much tougher to remove, even if you use a toothbrush with firmer bristles. In many cases, dentists have to scrape away tartar with metal tools.
Of course, it is easier to prevent tartar than remove it. Dentistry can help with this by cleaning plaque before it hardens.
Even if you use an electric toothbrush, some areas are difficult to reach on your own. For example, you cannot see how thoroughly you cleaned the backside of your teeth, and it can be difficult to get back molars. Dentists have special tools, such as small mirrors, to help them clean these areas.
Just like dentists can reach spots you cannot, they can also see warning signs you may miss. A crucial part of any dental visit is a thorough exam with X-rays. These allow your dentist to spot problems long before you have symptoms, ensuring issues are treated before they become expensive, painful, and inconvenient.
If your gums are bleeding, you probably have gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease. Bleeding may be accompanied by the following symptoms:
Gingivitis is a serious concern, as it can develop into periodontitis if not immediately addressed. Fortunately, a dentist can help you reverse the issue with a thorough cleaning and instructions on how to better care for your teeth.
Dental X-rays say a lot about the internal health of your teeth. All teeth have nerves at their centers; the outer layers protect this sensitive part. However, the nerve can be damaged, "killing" the tooth. When this happens, bacteria starts eating the tooth from the inside out, causing a serious cavity. X-rays let your dentist know if there is a problem with the nerve before bacteria can gain a foothold.
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The field of dentistry is dedicated to helping patients stay healthy, which is why you should schedule regular visits. If you wait until you have pain or tooth loss, the road to recovery will be a long one, and you may lose multiple teeth before you get there. To prevent cavities and other issues, you should see your dentist at least once a year.
Request an appointment or call Island Paradise Dental at 239-642-3233 for an appointment in our Marco Island office.
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