Having optimally functional and healthy teeth is key to maintaining overall health. Unfortunately, you can develop dental concerns even when you observe good oral hygiene habits like daily brushing. However, you can prevent many dental issues from happening or worsening through biannual dental appointments or when you feel something is off with your teeth.

Visiting the dentist at least two times annually for oral examination helps prevent many dental problems like bad breath, gum disease, tooth decay, oral cancer, overcrowding, tooth hypersensitivity, and misalignment. Regular dental visits help identify these issues or symptoms early, preventing escalation. Here is the significance of regular dental visits in preventing these common oral concerns.

Bad Breath

Otherwise called halitosis, bad breath is a symptom characterized by unpleasant mouth odor that does not disappear even when you brush your teeth using fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash. Patients affected with the symptoms suffer from social anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder because of the embarrassment stemming from the foul breath. Halitosis has many causes, including:

Inconsistent or Poor Oral Hygiene

Every time you eat, food particles are left in the mouth. When the particles mix with harmful bacteria in the mouth, they cause mouth odor, which is particularly felt when you breathe out. So, dentists encourage brushing and flossing teeth after meals to prevent the accumulation of food particles in the mouth and subsequent bad breath.

Periodontal Disease

When you neglect your oral hygiene for a prolonged duration, the food particles start to accumulate in the gumlines and tooth spaces, forming plaque. The plaque creates a conducive environment for breeding acidic or harmful bacteria that irritate the gum tissue, causing gingivitis. The conditions weaken the gingival tissue, which starts to form deep pockets, allowing for further plaque accumulation and decay. During routine dental checkups, your dentist can identify signs of gingivitis and recommend treatments and hygiene changes to reverse the condition. However, when the condition is not recognized early, it escalates to periodontitis, which is associated with bad breath even after proper teeth brushing.

Chronic or Prolonged Illnesses

Another cause of foul breath is chronic conditions like diabetes and kidney failure. When your kidneys malfunction, you begin experiencing symptoms like fishy or ammonia breath, manifesting when you exhale. Also, conditions like diabetes can cause diabetic ketoacidosis, which is associated with a fruity odor when you exhale.

Tobacco Smoking

Whenever you smoke, chemical residues of the tobacco are trapped in the mouth and your airways, resulting in bad breath. If you smoke for an extended duration, the bad breath becomes consistent, contributing to halitosis.

Particular Foods

The smell of your breath is significantly affected by the food you consume. You can address bad breath using techniques like brushing, mouthwash, and breath mints. However, these only offer temporary solutions. You can identify these signs early and find a lasting solution through regular oral exams with your dentist. If you have an underlying condition like gingivitis that could be causing the foul breath, the dentist can develop a dental routine to reverse the condition and clear the bad breath. When you have halitosis because of plaque and calculus accumulation in the teeth, which cannot be removed through standard brushing, your dentist will perform a deep cleaning during your biannual visits, eliminating the halitosis.

Gum Disease

Also called periodontitis or periodontal disease, gum disease is an inflammatory oral concern that affects the gum tissue surrounding the teeth. In the early stages, it is called gingivitis, and reddish and swollen gums characterize it. When the gum infection is not addressed, it causes gum recession, exposing the teeth roots and increasing the risk of tooth loss. Continued bacterial infection can spread to the bloodstream, causing heart infections. You can prevent periodontal disease or its escalation through regular dental exams. Your dentist can identify the symptoms early and recommend the appropriate treatment to arrest the disease before it advances, threatening your overall well-being.

Individuals are more susceptible to gum disease if they are smokers, have dry mouth syndrome, or have diabetes. The symptoms of periodontitis are bad breath, bleeding gums, tooth sensitivity, and pain when eating. In the early stages, the condition is known as gingivitis and is characterized by tender and red gums, receding gum tissue, and bleeding. Your dentist will not miss these symptoms during routine checkups. However, you should schedule an appointment to start early treatment when you notice signs of the conditions.

The primary cause of gingivitis is inconsistent oral hygiene and skipping routine dental appointments. In the process, plaque and calculus build up on the gumline and between the teeth, forming a protective layer for the harmful bacteria, which irritates the soft tissue, causing swelling. From the information, you can conclude that a regular dental examination can help prevent gum disease.

Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is another common dental concern, and you can avert it by visiting your dental clinic for an examination and professional cleaning regularly. The condition is characterized by the gradual damage to the enamel by bacteria from the plaque and tartar that build up above the gums, around the teeth, and in spaces left by dental fillings due to poor dental hygiene. The sticky layer allows for the breeding and spreading of acidic bacteria, which eat away at the enamel.

Your mouth has multiple bacterial strains that produce acids. When these acids stay in contact with the enamel for an extended period, they erode it. If the erosion is not stopped, it escalates to the dentin, the hardened inner section of your tooth’s structure.

Tooth decay is a gradual process, meaning you can prevent the condition from escalating by visiting a dentist frequently. Your dentist can notice the erosion of the enamel when it begins and take measures to prevent the condition from progressing through professional deep cleaning.

No one is immune to tooth decay. Dental concerns can affect anyone, even those who observe good dental hygiene. Besides, it can affect a tooth with no issue or form at the bottom of a tooth with a dental filling. Besides, as you age, the enamel weakens and becomes more prone to erosion and subsequent formation of cavities. Therefore, the best way to prevent the condition, even with proper dental hygiene, is to visit your dental expert frequently for a thorough tooth evaluation.

Once the dental expert identifies signs of tooth decay during a routine dental exam, they will:

  • Thoroughly inspect your teeth and gums.
  • Ask if you are experiencing tooth hypersensitivity or toothaches.
  • Utilize special dental tools to probe each tooth for soft spots.
  • Order an X-ray to probe the extent of your dental caries.

There are several treatment options once you are diagnosed with tooth decay. Your dental expert will recommend consuming fluoridated water and brushing with fluoride-based toothpastes. Fluoride products have proven to be effective in preventing or halting tooth decay. When you visit your dentist early after noticing the signs of the condition, they will determine the cause and extent of the damage and recommend appropriate treatment based on the severity of the condition.

You will require a dental crown if the dentist removes a significant portion of the damaged part of the tooth and leaves it weak. The crown helps strengthen the remaining healthy part. When the decay extends to the pulp, you will require canal therapy. After removing the damaged pulp, the dentist will check if there is remaining infection that could spread and administer antibiotics when necessary. Once the infection is stopped, the dentist will fill the tooth.

In severe cases where the risk of the infection spreading to the nearby teeth is high, your dental expert will recommend a tooth extraction. After the extraction, you can replace the missing tooth with dental crowns, dental bridges, or implants. By closing the open socket, the dentist prevents the adjacent teeth from shifting towards the missing tooth, causing misalignment and creating gaps in the mouth.

Tooth Sensitivity

You develop tooth sensitivity when your dentin, the hardened layer below the enamel, is exposed due to decay, enamel erosion, or gum recession. Many people experience sensitivity briefly when they consume hot or cold substances. For some people, sensitivity is triggered by brushing or exposing the teeth to cold air.

The mistake many dental patients make is to address tooth sensitivity using over-the-counter drugs. These only stop the sensitivity but do not address the cause of your problem. Tooth sensitivity could indicate several dental issues, and you need a thorough oral evaluation to establish the source of the sensitivity. If the sensitivity stems from an abscess, your dentist will identify the source during an oral examination and recommend the appropriate treatment. If you opt to take OTC medication instead of visiting a dentist, the dental abscess will escalate, causing the infection to spread to the jawbone, making the condition life-threatening. Therefore, when you suffer from sensitivity, Schedule an appointment with your dentist for an examination. Once they identify the source of the symptoms, they will refer you to the right expert for the appropriate treatment.

Tooth Misalignment

Misaligned teeth can cause many oral issues. First, it becomes difficult to properly clean your teeth, exposing you to several oral problems stemming from poor dental hygiene. Also, when teeth grow out of line, they become overcrowded, leading to underbites and overbites.

Regular appointments with your dentist enable them to identify the misalignment early and take appropriate measures to fix the problem, including referring you to an orthodontist for specialized care. There are several oral solutions for the problem, but you will need the advice of a dental expert, which you can find through routine dental visits.

Oral Cancer

Also called mouth or oral cavity cancer, oral cancer affects the oral cavity, the lining of the lips, or the upper throat. Cases of the condition have become prevalent, with the Oral Cancer Foundation estimating that 53,500 Americans will be diagnosed with the disease in 2025, with only 57% of these individuals expected to be alive after 60 months, an indication that the disease kills almost half of those who develop it. The high death rate is associated with late diagnoses, which sees many patients start treatment after the condition has significantly advanced.

Therefore, you are encouraged to make frequent visits to your dental expert, at least two times annually. During these routine checks, the dentist records your medical history. They ask about any health conditions you could be suffering from or medication that you are taking that increases the risk of oral cancer or other issues.

Additionally, the dentist thoroughly investigates your gums, teeth, jawbone, and supporting structures. When they require detailed information to understand the severity of your oral concern, they conduct various X-ray tests.

After, they clean your teeth and review the results from the X-rays. With the increased oral cancer cases, many dentists conduct a cancer screening to look for signs of the disease. They inspect the lips, areas under your jaws, the cheeks, neck, tongue, and the entire mouth, including the roof and floor. If they observe signs of the condition, they refer you to a specialist for advanced cancer screening.

Common indications of oral cancer that the dentist is likely to notice in a routine checkup are:

  • Pain in the oral cavity.
  • Problems swallowing.
  • Red or white spots or patches in the mouth.
  • Loose teeth.
  • Mouth lumps.
  • Persistent mouth sores.

When you have these signs, you should visit a dentist immediately for an oral cancer screening. Only after screening can you establish the cause of your symptoms. Oral cancer is treatable, but with early detection. The best way to detect the disease early is to visit your dentist regularly for oral exams. The dentist will not miss signs of the condition during these checkups, helping you start treatment early and fight the deadly disease.

Find a Competent Advanced Dentistry Service Near Me

Most dental concerns or issues develop gradually and can be averted or prevented from escalating through regular dental exams and evaluations. These practices help you maintain healthy gum tissue and teeth. The American Dental Association encourages Americans to visit a dentist biannually for a checkup for healthier teeth.

Valencia Advanced Dentistry at Copperhill Smiles has dental experts knowledgeable about preventative dentistry. Our experts will make you comfortable during the examination to eliminate the fear associated with dental visits and encourage you to visit more frequently. Contact us at 661-775-7717 to schedule an appointment or to inquire about dental checkups in Santa Clarita, CA.