Hi, it’s Suzie – from Sure Dental.
I just finished with one of my patients, Claire from Northgate. Claire asked me why it is so important that she has regular dental check-ups. I get asked this question often, so I thought I’d make this short video to explain.
There four important reasons to have your regular dental clean and checkup: One, to remove plaque, tartar, stains, and check for cavities; Two, to prevent or detect gum disease; three to check for oral cancer; and four, to review your ongoing home care techniques.
- Even with the most diligent daily brushing and flossing, there are still small areas in the mouth that can be missed, where plaque can accumulate. This should be removed as soon as possible. When plaque builds up, it’s more difficult to remove. It hardens, solidifies and turns into what we call calculus, or tartar. It is almost like concrete. Tartar requires professional intervention. It cannot be removed at home.
I’m not sure if you realise, but tartar can erode your teeth and create holes. Regular dental cleans can prevent this tooth decay from happening. While holes are forming, there are rarely any symptoms. Generally, you get the symptoms when it’s too late and the bacteria has reached the nerve of the tooth. This is why it’s so important to have regular dental checkups, to have the plaque and tartar removed professionally – and of course, to have the stains removed to keep your teeth nice and white. - The second point I mentioned is gum disease. This is another issue that can be caused by plaque and tartar. What happens is the bacteria, from the tartar, burrows down under the gums and causes the foundations of your teeth to break down. When you have gum disease, the gums can be red, puffy, swollen and they may bleed when brushing and flossing, and you can have bad breath. But you don’t always see these signs, so a check-up is essential for prevention.
There are two types of gum disease. The first type is gingivitis, and this generally affects the tissue that attaches the gums to your teeth. Often the gums may be very red and swollen as they are irritated from the tartar. If left long enough, gingivitis can turn into periodontitis, the second type of gum disease.
Periodontitis is when the bacteria burrow down under the gums and starts to eat away at the jaw bone. It starts to deteriorate the foundations that hold your teeth in place. If gum disease is not treated, your teeth may loosen and can ever fall out. It is sad to think that beautiful healthy teeth can fall out, simply due to gum disease. And it is so easy to prevent. Luckily we can remove all of the tartar that’s calcified on the gum line, to keep you free of gum disease. - During your appointment, we always check for oral cancer. As you can imagine, oral cancer is a serious disease and it can quickly progress if left untreated.
- Lastly, your regular check up is a good time to review your home care techniques, to be sure that you are flossing and brushing correctly and taking good care of your beautiful teeth at home.
I hope you found this video helpful. The health of your teeth can affect the health of your whole body. Regular appointments are essential as part of your overall health and to maintain your beautiful bright smile. If you haven’t had a check-up for a while, we would love to help you. At Sure Dental, we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional service. We are very gentle and will take good care of you. To make an appointment, simply fill in the enquiry form on our website, direct message us on social media, or call us on 07 3113 9698
