You’ve probably heard it over and over – visit your dentist for a check-up and preventative treatment at least every 6 months. If every Australian did, we would probably all have super healthy teeth and gums.
Unfortunately, 65% of Australians haven’t seen their dentist for a check-up in the last 2 years, as was highlighted recently during Dental Health Week 2019. Further compounding this issue is the fact that 50% of Australians brush their teeth only once daily – not to mention the 40% that never floss!
100% of plaque and tartar cleaned professionally
Ok, so why are dental check-up and cleans so essential? Perhaps the top benefit is that your dentist can professionally clean areas of your teeth that you regularly miss, such as the back of and in-between your teeth.
It’s these hard to reach areas where plaque builds up unnoticed, eventually solidifying into tartar. Tartar can only be removed – via scaling – by your dentist. If left untreated, tartar can erode your teeth and cause cavities, gingivitis and eventually gum disease.
Only your dentist can provide you with squeaky clean teeth
After your teeth are professionally cleaned, flossed, scaled and polished, you’ll notice the difference immediately – they will be super squeaky clean! Your dentist will also advise you on brushing and flossing techniques that will help you to clean the areas you usually miss more effectively.
What happens during a check-up?
Quite a lot happens, actually. During a check-up, your dentist will examine and assess the health of your teeth, gums and oral soft tissue in a number of ways, including:
- Examining your face and neck
- Checking your lymph nodes
- Examining your gums for signs of gum recession & gum disease
- Checking your teeth for visible signs of tooth decay and cavities
- Examining your tongue and oral soft tissue
- Checking for signs & symptoms of TMJ disorders
- Checking for loosened teeth
- Looking for hairline fractures and broken teeth
- Checking the alignment of your bite
- Checking for damaged dental work, incl. fillings, crowns & veneers
- Checking dental appliances or devices, such as dentures
- Checking for oral cancer with a VELscope device
- Taking x-rays to check for: decay between teeth and under fillings/crowns; impacted teeth; bone loss; abscesses; cysts; and tumours
So, as you can see, by seeing your dentist regularly for a regular check-up and clean, you are doing your oral health a big favour – now and in the future.
