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Oral hygiene is an essential part of living a healthy lifestyle. Your teeth are as an important part of your body as any other part, including your heart, lungs and respiratory system. Keeping them healthy and clean not only makes them look good but helps prevent more serious issues. While brushing your teeth regularly is important, seeing your dentist regularly to get check-ups and cleanings is equally, if not more, critical. Check out the reasons below to find out why dental cleanings and checkups should be an essential part of your life.

The dentist is trained to detect any issues that may arise.

While your teeth might look fine to you, your dentist will be able to see cavities that may be forming, the beginnings of gum infection, or any other dental issues that you would not be able to detect. By getting an early look at these issues, your dentist can address them, preventing more expensive and difficult treatments down the road.

The dentist can remove plaque, tartar and any other buildup with a professional cleaning.

You can brush your teeth all day and all night and still not get rid of the amount of plaque and tartar that your dentist can remove with a professional cleaning.

Plaque is a breeding ground for bacteria, which in turn can damage and break down the enamel on your teeth, causing decay and damage. So…it’s really important that it’s removed from your teeth! Your dentist can get rid of this buildup using a scraper and other tools.

A professional dental cleaning can help prevent health problems in other parts of your body.

It’s a well-known fact that oral health is often an indicator of what’s going on inside of your body. According to the Mayo Clinic, diseases like cardiovascular disease and endocarditis are conditions that could be caused by poor oral health. There’s a link between oral bacteria and the bacteria associated with these diseases.

Your dentist can keep an eye out for oral cancer.

Oral cancer is an extremely serious disease that, left untreated, can become fatal. The good news is that if it’s caught early, it’s easily treatable. The only way that you’ll know if you’re in the early stages of oral cancer is through regular visits with your dentist. The dentist can detect the signs and symptoms of oral cancer with something called a VELscope cancer exam. It only takes a minute, but it’s unsurpassed at its ability to detect early tumor formation.

Your dentist can determine if you’re at the early stages of gum disease.

Gingivitis is one of the earliest signs of gum disease. It happens when too much tartar on the teeth infects the gums, causing them to pull away from the teeth. As the disease progresses, the tissue surrounding the teeth breaks down, causing gum disease. Gum disease can lead to tooth loss. Your dentist is trained to detect the early signs of gum disease so that preventive measures can be taken. Regular dental check-ups can help keep gum disease in check, preventing costly and invasive procedures down the road.

Do yourself a favor, and visit your dentist regularly. It can make all the difference in not only your dental health, but your overall health. If you are in the Holland, Michigan area please feel free to contact our dental office for a free examination

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