Stay On Top of Your Oral Health With Regular Dental Checkups

Seeing your dentist twice yearly (every six months) for a routine dental cleaning and examination is a great way to help maintain your oral health. When you visit your Mesquite, Texas dentist for a checkup, they will not only clean your teeth but perform an examination that will detect any developing oral health problems before they become something bigger, requiring more extensive and expensive restorative care. Dr. Tina Foss and the North Mesquite Dental Group team welcome patients in for checkups and would like to share why these checkups are so important.

Prevention

Even if you brush twice a day and floss daily, there will still be areas of your mouth that will likely be missed due to them being harder to reach or because of deeper grooves. A great example is the back molars, which can be difficult to clean thoroughly. This is exactly why people should visit their dentist twice a year.

During your checkup, Dr. Foss will examine your mouth for signs of developing tooth decay. When tiny cavities or white spots are found on teeth, she can start treatment to try and reverse the decay. One treatment that works great for this is a fluoride treatment. Larger, more significant decay will be removed, and a filling will be put in place to seal the cavity.

You will also receive professional teeth cleaning during a checkup to remove any lingering plaque or tartar on the teeth and along the gum line. Because harmful bacteria thrive in areas of plaque and tartar, having your teeth cleaned is a significant component of preventive dental care.

Oral Cancer

When you visit Dr. Foss for a checkup, she will examine your teeth and gums. She will also check for early signs of oral cancer developing in the mouth. Undetected oral cancer is life-threatening, making these oral cancer screenings incredibly important.

As long as you see your dentist every six months, the chances of developing later stages of oral cancer are minimal.

Systemic Health

Another component of a dental checkup is an examination of the head and neck. Dr. Foss will check your lymph nodes, any noticeable lumps, your jaw and neck for possible swelling, and any other symptoms that could point to a systemic health issue. If any problems are detected, you will be referred to an appropriate medical professional.

Gum Disease

Outside of some very minor signs, the early stages of gum disease do not really present any symptoms, making it difficult for the average person to detect it on their own. Your dentist, however, is trained to spot gum disease even as it tries to hide itself. During your checkup, Dr. Foss will feel the gums to ensure they feel firm. Symptoms, including swelling, gum recession, and deep gum pockets, will be looked for. If any symptoms are caught, the underlying cause can then be treated to fight gum disease.

Regular Dental Checkups Allow You Have The Upper Hand With Your Dental Health

When you receive regular dental checkups, your oral health is far more likely to remain in great shape. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Tina Foss and the North Mesquite Dental Group team in Mesquite, TX, please call (972) 619-7763 today.

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