The Dangers of Putting Off Dental Care

We all know it; we hear it all the time. From your family, elders, teachers, advertisements, television, it all tells you the same thing: Brush Your Teeth.

Dental care seems to generally get overlooked. It is easy to push off an appointment that only happens every six months, because it may not seem urgent or important enough to take the time and go. A lot of people actually feel this way, especially now with the recent pandemic. According to American Dental Association, approximately 42% of Americans do not see their dentist as they should, and in light of COVID-19, these numbers have increased. There is an importance in these appointments though. It is crucial to make time and effort to go to your annual checkups, or your oral health may suffer.

There are countless reasons why patients put off dental work. You may experience severe dental anxiety and can’t get yourself to get into the chair, or financially you may think the dentist is out of the realm of possibility, and sometimes people just do not see the value or urgency in going. Whatever the reason is, we want to assure you that your dental practice is geared to help you. They want the best outcome for your oral health and will work with you to find solutions for any situation. And two, there are extensive reasons why your visit should be a priority when your appointment rolls around. It may not seem like it to the Average Joe, but without these valuable appointments, there are great dangers facing your mouth.

Tooth Decay

Daily brushing and flossing are preventative measures for tooth decay but do not always ensure it doesn’t happen. When you visit your dentist, your exam will check for any decay. Sometimes decay can lie in between the teeth, under previous cavities, or below the gum line, all places not visible to the untrained eye. So, you may think you are in the clear for cavities and decay, but that can’t be confirmed without the professional opinion of your dentist and the technologies they use to detect it. 

Gum Disease

Like decay, you can brush and floss at home to avoid gum diseases, but that does not always work. Genetics plays a strong role in your teeth. Some have great teeth, and some have teeth that are prone to decay and plaque buildup no matter how good of a job you do with your at-home oral care. By going to your dentist, your cleaning can get rid of plaque and other bacteria that are on the surface. If not, you may develop gingivitis or periodontal disease. Both can create many dental issues down the road, as well as pain, swelling, and irritation of the gum line, the tooth itself, and even the bone below.

Tooth Loss

With decay and gum disease, you may be in danger of tooth loss. When dental care goes untreated for so long, you run the risk of losing one tooth, or many, depending on the severity. When you experience tooth loss, you are losing a vital bone in your body that is meant to support you. You also run the expense of replacing a tooth which can be more expensive than it would have been to go to your original checkups and avoid this.

Abscesses

Infections and abscesses also sometimes cannot be detected by the patient on their own. A lot of the time, these can be found in the tooth or below it. You may think you are experiencing a minor toothache, but in reality, you have an infection that needs to be treated or you run the risk of serious health issues and potential complications.

Cancers & Other Health Issues

Apart from your regular checkups, your dentist will run preventative screenings for oral cancers. This can be x-rays and visual exams to check for abnormalities. According to The Oral Cancer Foundation, nearly 54,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer each year. Your overall health is in jeopardy without getting screened by your dentist for the disease. Along with oral cancers, your dentist can detect other health issues such as hypertension, diabetes, kidney failure, and heart disease.

Postponing your dental care leads to severe consequences. Not only is your health at risk, but so is your time and wallet. As you neglect your teeth, more and more procedures will be required to get them healthy again. You will be faced with many appointments, as not all dental procedures can be done in one sitting, as well as a high cost paired with each service. 

Nothing good comes out of skipping the dentist. Hopefully, this will enlighten you to rethink attending your scheduled appointments, because the dangers of not are too threatening to your well-being. Keep brushing and flossing regularly at home, but do not forget the importance of seeing your dentist. No more putting off dental care.

Green Leaf Dental Care