If you are serious about protecting your health, then you should be making a point to visit your dentist regularly. It’s a no-brainer, yet the Centers for Disease Control estimates that 38.3% of Americans aged 18-64 have not visited the dentist in the past year.
Most people avoid the dentist for financial reasons, but they do not realize that avoiding the dentist can actually cost you much more in the long run.
Some Things are Best Left to Dentists
So why is it so important to go to the dentist when you can brush your teeth at home? There are several reasons, but one of the most important is that dentists are trained to examine your mouth and keep an eye out for diseases and infections that may otherwise go unnoticed. This means that they can catch conditions such as gum disease that are easy to miss if you are unaware of the symptoms, and may be fatal if left untreated.
The same applies to cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening. For example, what you may see as simple stains may actually be worn enamel, and it is easy to confuse the two. In fact, whitening is best left to dentists as some at-home whitening kits have been shown to cause damage to your enamel, and a good dentist will know if your teeth are healthy enough for a whitening regimen.
Another potential problem with home whitening is that it can irritate your gums. If your gums are already sensitive because of gum disease, it can contribute to receding gums. But teeth whitening at the dentist is done to avoid irritation to your gums.
There is a reason why your teeth always feel cleaner after visiting the dentist than they do at home. Tartar, also known as calculus, is hardened dental plaque. While dental plaque can be cleaned at home with brushing and flossing, tartar buildup is much too hard to be effectively cleaned at home. The best method to remove tartar is through an ultrasonic cleaner or a hand scaler.
What Are You Waiting For?
A great smile makes all the difference, and the best way to achieve a memorable smile is to make a point to visit your dentist on a regular basis. If you live in Rockland County and are looking to charge of your dental health, please consider paying a visit to Dr. Dunayer and his team at B&D Dental Excellence in West Nyack. Give us a call at (845) 627-7645 to schedule an appointment today.
