When you have a
dental exam, the dentist isn't only checking for cavities. There are important reasons why dentists recommended that you have a dental exam every six months. Regular dental checkups still are critical for maintaining your oral health and making sure your smile remains beautiful, but, these exams check for health issues that aren't restricted to gums and teeth.
These routine dental checkups help diagnose a wide variety of health problems while they're still in the early stages. This is important, as treatment for health ailments is usually most successful when discovered early. If not caught and treated early on, some of these otherwise preventable ailments can cause significant problems. But it isn't only your mouth, as some signs and symptoms a dentist discovers may indicate diseases elsewhere in your body.
Regular dental appointments can reduce your risk for some diseases. Skipping cleaning sessions will cause the bacteria in your mouth to adhere to your teeth, and to coat the surface of your teeth with a biofilm. This bacteria can penetrate your tissues and blood vessels, causing inflammation or disease elsewhere in your body.
This might surprise you, but a dentist may also help save you from a heart attack. As per the research performed by the American Heart Association, those who do not get their regular exams and teeth cleanings are at a
24% greater risk of suffering a heart attack and a 13% higher likelihood of a stroke than people who get regular exams and cleanings. Dentists can also refer patients to a doctor if they notice high blood pressure.
Symptoms such as gums that are bleeding or swollen, or tooth erosion could indicate diseases such as osteoporosis, eating disorders, and acid reflux. Gum disease could be an indicator that you have diabetes. Mouth ulcers can be associated with Crohn's disease, whereas a condition called oral candidiasis might indicate an issue like HIV.
Also, checkups with a dentist screen for risk factors for diseases like oral cancer.
So now you know why your regular dentist appointments with Dr. Sachs are so important.
Have you booked your next exam?
Why not schedule today?