The current pandemic has many of us either working from home or, at the very least, spending a lot more time there than we normally would. And while it might be tempting to postpone some of your regular trips to the doctor or dentist during this time period, it’s important to avoid that temptation! When it comes to maintaining good oral health, routine oral exams and professional cleanings are vital. Here’s why:
- During a professional cleaning, your hygienist removes plaque and tartar buildup that you can never effectively remove on your own. Excess plaque and tartar eventually lead to tooth decay and gum disease – and that can happen faster than you think! To keep up, most dentists recommend having professional cleanings at least twice a year.
- Your dental care professional will check your gum health. You could be in the early stages of gum disease and not even know it. During a routine dental visit, your dentist or hygienist can check the health of your gums by an oral exam and by measuring the depth of gum pockets that form around teeth. The deeper the pocket, the less healthy the gum tissue is. There are some symptoms of early-stage gum disease (such as tender, swollen, and/or bleeding gums), but it’s also entirely possible to have gum disease without even realizing it. Left untreated, gum disease can lead to tooth loss, as well as negatively impacting your overall health.
- Your dentist can perform an oral cancer screening. Much like gum disease, oral cancer can be present with no symptoms whatsoever. Fortunately, your dentist can perform an oral cancer screening at your regular dental appointment to check for early signs of the disease, and as long as it is caught in the early stages, oral cancer is usually quite treatable.
- Your dentist can ask you if you are experiencing any signs of TMJ and/or bruxism. Stress can cause us to clench our jaws and grind our teeth (bruxism). If you are clenching your jaw throughout the day and/or grinding your teeth at night, you could be suffering from TMJ disorder. The TMJ (temporomandibular joint) is located on each side of your face, directly in front of your ear. When you clench your jaw or grind your teeth, it can wear down your teeth, throw your bite off, cause headaches and sleep disruptions, as well as a variety of other problems.
Stress can impact your oral health. It’s fair to say that living through a global pandemic is stressful for all of us. Most of us know that stress can raise our blood pressure and have other negative effects on our overall health. But you may not know that stress can impact your oral health as well. So if you’re trying to stay safe and healthy during these challenging times, visiting your dentist for routine exams and cleanings is more important than ever.
