The average person produces a lot of tartar over the span of 6 months. Since tartar is too tough to remove with a toothbrush or floss, getting into the dentist’s chair twice a year will go a long way in ensuring your overall health. While it may be easy to convince yourself to skip your bi-annual dental check-up — you floss daily, brush twice a day, and don’t experience any pain — there is more to a dental cleaning than just refreshing your teeth and gums.

What exactly is your dentist looking for? A few things: signs of gum disease, cavities, plaque or tartar build-up, and tooth decay. The presence of any of these is a concern for more than just your mouth. It can alert your dentist to other health concerns which, if detected early on, gives you a much better chance at preventing or even reversing them.

A cavity, if left untreated, will spread to the inner tooth and cause an infection that could enter the bloodstream and cause severe systemic infections. There have also been many studies done that show the deep connection between gum disease and health conditions like diabetes and dementia.

Other health issues that could be spotted by your dentist include:

Oral Cancer – The signs can start small and may only be noticed by your dentist
Acid Reflux – Enamel erosion along the back molars is a common sign of acid reflux
Osteoporosis – Receding gums or loose teeth are indicators of this condition
Heart disease – Many studies have shown a connection between gum disease and heart disease, making dentists one of the first lines of defense in keeping your heart healthy

Dentists are trained to spot these potential health impacts. It benefits your overall health to keep your bi-annual dental health check-up on your calendar! Set up your appointment with us today and take your health back into your hands!