“Trips to the dentist – I like to postpone that kind of thing.” – Johnny Depp
Do you need to visit the dentist? And, are you putting it off for as long as possible because sitting in the dentist’s chair is uncomfortable? You might even have a gag-reaction which makes the appointment even more of a trial and an ordeal than usual.
The Johnny Depp quotation mentioned above highlights the sentiment that only 25% of American citizens are satisfied with their oral health. It is perhaps interesting to note that, in 2017, circa 85% of Americans indicated that they would like to visit the dentist more often. However, intent does not always translate into actions.
Reasons why visiting the dentist is vital
Thus, in order to highlight the importance of visiting the dentist bi-annually, let’s look at the top three reasons why a strict dental visit regime is of critical importance:
Improve your self-esteem
Improving your self-esteem is not among the most common reasons given for visiting the dentist. Succinctly stated, if you visit the dentist, you will more than likely have healthy white teeth. On the other hand, if you will probably have yellowing teeth and you will battle with halitosis.
Thus, if you pay close attention to your oral hygiene, you will feel much better about talking to people, smiling, and having photographs taken of you. Otherwise, you will more than likely always wonder what people think of your teeth and whether your breath smells as a result of halitosis when you speak to people.
Consequently, it is safe to say that dental hygiene or oral health will affect your self-esteem either negatively or positively depending on the state of your mouth and teeth.
Pick early warning signs of disease
Regular visits to one of the dentists at the North County WIC Office will not only ensure healthy teeth and good oral hygiene, but it will also allow for the early detection of serious diseases like oral cancer, type 2 diabetes, and pneumonia.
The human mouth is filled with bacteria, both good and bad bacteria. And, the balance between healthy and unhealthy bacteria is determined by oral hygiene levels. Thus, poor mouth hygiene translates into maximum levels of harmful bacteria and vice versa. This bacterium is then swallowed; thereby, causing diseases like pneumonia.
It is interesting to note that the official definition of pneumonia is as follows:
“Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs. Symptoms are fever, chills, cough, chest pain, and trouble breathing. It’s often caused by a viral or bacterial infection.â€
Thus, it stands to reason that poor oral hygiene can be a primary contributor to the development of pneumonia
Improve your overall health and well-being
As the reason mentioned above highlights, a healthy mouth as a consequence of an excellent oral hygiene regimen forms a vital part of ensuring that you stay healthy, especially as you age. Not only is poor oral hygiene a cause of diseases like pneumonia, but it is also indicated in cardiovascular disease, or more specifically, the narrowing of the arteries that pump blood from the heart.
Prevent periodontal disease
According to WebMD.com, periodontal disease is also known as gum disease. And, it is as a result of poor dental hygiene. The plaque that builds up on teeth contains bacteria, and, if the dentist does not regularly clean this plaque, it can result in gum inflammation and bleeding. Should this state be allowed to continue, it can ultimately result in the loss of teeth because the gums and bone pull away from the teeth.
Once your teeth have fallen out, it can be a painful process to fit orthodontic replacement teeth prostheses. Thus, it is far more comfortable, less painful, and more cost-effective to visit the dentist every six months.
Prevent halitosis
Halitosis is defined as bad breath, and it can be a consequence of poor oral hygiene. Essentially, leftover food particles cause the teeth to rot, and, in turn, result in bad breath. And, it is challenging to talk to someone with chronic, sour-smelling breath or halitosis. Thus, it is vital to visit the dentist regularly to ensure that your teeth stay clean, your mouth hygiene remains good, and your breath smells fresh.
Prev