It is remarkable that many of my young patients are people who have not been to a dentist for years. Deep down they understand that going to the dentist is important, but either for financial or various other reasons of our times, they have put their dental health on the back burner.

Below are five reasons why visiting your dentist twice a year is important not only for your oral health but also for your overall health. There is now thorough research linking oral diseases (such as gingivitis) to several common health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and osteoporosis. Therefore, routine dental visits are an excellent way to help increase your overall health. Therefore, they should not be neglected under any circumstances.

1) Identify small problems before they become big ones. There are indeed many reasons why dental checkups are so important. However, perhaps the most important reason is precisely because dental checkups allow your dentist to focus on the small problems in your mouth and allow you to have them corrected before you need expensive and invasive procedures, such as root canal therapy, which is the most common.

2) Seals have a life expectancy. Fillings are not permanent and often need to be replaced every few years to ensure the health of your tooth. However, with proper hygiene, such as brushing and flossing, you will have less tooth decay. With less decay, your fillings may last longer. At each dental visit, dentists often check the health of your fillings, allowing you to be sure your teeth are healthy and strong.

3) The absence of a toothache should not be a cause for complacency. Just because your teeth don't hurt doesn't mean that potential cavities haven't formed. Mild tooth decay doesn't have many symptoms and can often go unnoticed for a long time. By visiting the dentist twice a year, we are able to identify any problem areas and treat them quickly.

4.) Gingivitis is curable. During a regular check-up visit , the dentist will examine the condition of your gums. If gingivitis has developed you should start treatment immediately as prolonged gingivitis develops into periodontal disease. Periodontitis is treatable but not fully curable and is a condition that can cause you a lot of discomfort and a lot of problems. It is therefore very important to prevent a possible gingivitis before it has such a bad development. If you have gingivitis, it is curable with proper oral hygiene and dental visits. However, once you start slacking on this routine, the more likely it is that gingivitis will return or develop into the more problematic, periodontal disease.

5.) Your dentist is here to educate you. If you need dental advice or answers to questions that have not been adequately covered , a routine cleaning is the perfect time to ask. Many dentists incorporate patient education into their practices, so feel free to inquire. And always remember that there is no such thing as a dumb question when it comes to your dental health.

Again, there are many reasons why you should visit your dentist twice a year. What we've listed here are just a few of the reasons to make sure your smile is as healthy as possible. Don't neglect the importance of these visits, and if you haven't seen a dentist in a while, call and schedule an appointment today. Your smile will thank you.