Can You Remember When You Last Saw Your Dentist?
March 6, 2020 12:37 pmVisiting the dentist is likely to be at the bottom of most people’s ‘to do’ list: day-to-day concerns, busy schedules, and even a certain dread of the dentist’s chair can conspire to make us put off booking that appointment. It’s easy to assume that if there’s no pain, then everything’s fine. Why take the time to see the dentist when there’s no need?
- The risks of neglecting your teeth
However, the truth is that regular dentist appointments are absolutely vital in maintaining the best dental health. Without those checkups, your teeth and gums can become neglected and problems could develop. Often you won’t feel any pain or notice the symptoms until the condition is advanced enough to require treatment. For example, gum disease will often start with minor inflammation and redness that could be missed – especially if your dental routine isn’t the best to start with. Without diagnosis by the best dentist in Dubai, it could progress to the point where more invasive treatments like tissue grafts or pocket surgery are required. You could even lose your teeth if the condition were to be left untreated for long enough.
- The impact on overall health
There’s also increased risks if you have a condition like diabetes, if you smoke, or if you are pregnant. In these situations, the immune system isn’t always able to defend itself so well as normal – meaning that problem-causing bacteria are more likely form and increase around the gums and teeth. What’s more, there are increasing amounts of evidence linking poor mouth health with chronic conditions affecting the rest of the body, such as heart disease. In this particular case, it’s thought that bacteria formed in the mouth can be transported through the bloodstream and to blood vessels in the heart. The WHO has identified oral cavities as one of the leading oral health problems in the developed world – so even if you think you have a healthy lifestyle, you could still be at risk.
- The benefits
While the issue of gum and dental health is a serious one, visiting the dentist needn’t be scary. In fact, with regular visits, your teeth and gums are very likely to be kept in optimal condition. This is because the best dentist in Dubai will be able to prevent problems starting, or detect, halt and reverse a problem relatively early on in its development. A good dentist can also advise on the best dental hygiene to carry on at home. The risk of developing a chronic condition is reduced hugely. And, any treatments that are still required are likely to be much simpler and more straightforward too.
- What can I expect?
Prevention is better than cure, and in dentistry this often starts with cleaning and prophylaxis. Prophylaxis, in simple terms, is a professional clean – usually a scale and polish – that a dentist may prescribe to remove plaque, bacteria, and tartar formed around your teeth. It’s commonly used to treat gingivitis – the early stages of gum disease, where the gums have become inflamed. This type of clean is much more thorough than the cleaning you can do at home with a toothbrush or floss, and it’s performed quickly and painlessly. With the right dental routine at home afterward, it’s often enough to stop the gum disease in its tracks. If you have a history of gum health problems, then periodontic cleaning below the gums may be required as well – again, it’s quick and painless. If the dentist notices any signs of cavities, these will usually be dealt with immediately at the appointment with a filling. The message is – catch the problem early, and it’s a simple solution. Choose to wait it out – and it’s likely you will have to endure a much longer treatment to fix it, as well as the discomfort you might experience in the meantime. Visit your dentist in Dubai regularly to avoid the hassle and risks to your dental health.
- How often should I visit?
We should all visit a dentist in Dubai at least every six months. Those with existing conditions will need to visit more frequently – though if you have healthy teeth and gums, once a year could be sufficient. Your dentist will be able to advise on the best course of action for you. Professional cleaning may be recommended twice a year and is often covered by insurance policies. It makes sense to schedule your next appointment every time you visit the dentist, so you don’t forget and leave it too long until your next visit. If you experience any pain or strange symptoms between appointments, such as excessive gum bleeding or swelling, you should schedule an extra appointment with your dentist.
- Looking after your family
It’s important to make sure that your children also see a dentist in Dubai regularly. Babies, children and teenagers can suffer from just the same gum and tooth problems as adults, and if a proper brushing regime isn’t introduced early on, these problems can have long term implications. For instance, if baby teeth fall out too early, there’s a risk that adult teeth can move out of place as they push to the surface. A recent Dubai Health Authority survey showed that tooth decay in 5-7 year olds was as much as six times worse than in countries like the UK, and nearly two thirds of 15-17 year olds surveyed had tooth cavities. Regular dentist appointments can help establish the right dental routine for the long term – and any problems can be nipped in the bud. Make an appointment before their first birthday, and keep a regular six-monthly schedule after that.
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