Isn’t Daily Oral Hygiene Enough?
Twice a year, every six months, semi-annually, no matter how you describe it, you should visit dentist at least two times every year. Yes, we already ask you to brush twice a day, and use floss daily. Isn’t that plenty of tooth maintenance? Why go to the dentist for cleaning as well?
Routine Tooth Maintenance is Important
For a moment, let’s think about our cars. We know to change the oil in our cars on a regular basis. If we don’t do this routine maintenance, our car’s engine seizes up or gives out, and then our car won’t take us anywhere. Also, if we neglect car maintenance or try to stretch out the time interval between tune-ups, we gradually damage our cars until they no longer function. Then, we’re stuck with friends, ride sharing, or public transit.
Most people get their car maintenance done without question — they’ll take it to a trusted mechanic or a quick-and-easy oil change business. Some people do it themselves, in an effort to cut cost or verify quality. Whatever the case, no one should question the car maintenance routine, chiefly due to the consequences. And car owners often seek out the best people to do this automotive maintenance.
Truthfully, it’s very similar with dental checkups. Routine maintenance on your teeth and gums helps to prevent your mouth breaking down. The challenge lies in where and when that maintenance happens. With your car, the mechanic uses dedicated equipment in a specialized garage, as you sit comfortably in a little room with coffee and magazines. But with your dental checkup, it’s much more personal — you’re the one in the specialized area. We’re getting to know your teeth and gums in ways that perhaps even you don’t, and a mild level of discomfort might be involved. That’s enough to intimidate most people!
When you add the common anxiety or fear of dental visits, it’s no wonder that so many individuals maintain their car more than their teeth! Nevertheless, neglecting your dental checkups allows bacteria, plaque and tartar to build up. Over time, those buildups cause irritation, gingivitis, periodontal disease, tooth decay, and tooth loss — and that’s worse than when your car’s engine seizes up. You don’t want to ask a friend to chew your food for you!
Why Visit the Dentist Twice a Year?
A regular routine of oral hygiene does reduce the speed and frequency of bacteria and plaque buildup in your mouth, but it won’t stop the buildup altogether. It takes a very short time period after eating and after brushing your teeth for bacteria to go back to making plaque. Eventually, plaque calcifies into tartar — a hard substance that is difficult to remove with just a toothbrush. For the typical mouth, it takes about six months for this buildup to reach the point where the gums become irritated, leading to gingivitis.
Our special skills and equipment at the Placerville Dental Group remove these bacterial buildups safely and successfully, allowing your teeth to maintain proper performance. Since a routine checkup often takes less than an hour, you may be done before your car’s oil change is completed! Please give us a call or schedule an appointment online so we can make sure that your teeth get whatever amount of routine maintenance they need!
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