Franklin 
Do you wonder why it’s important to visit your dentist in Tyler every six months when you brush and floss regularly at home? Unfortunately, there’s no substitution for a professional checkup and cleaning. Sometimes, there are nooks and crannies in your mouth that you can’t get to with a regular toothbrush, which is why your dental professional has specially crafted tools that are designed to remove cavity and gum disease-causing plaque and tartar from below your gum line. If you need more reasons to visit your dentist for your checkup and cleaning, read on for four.
Detect Oral Cancer Early
You may not have noticed, but each time you visit your dentist for your routine checkup, they conduct an oral cancer screening. This disease is notorious for progressing quickly, which makes it all the more important to spot early-on when there’s a greater chance of successfully treating it. During your screening, your dentist inspects your oral tissues, lips, and neck for any signs of precancerous or cancerous symptoms in your mouth. This includes red and white patches in your mouth, and any abnormalities.
Control Plaque and Bacteria Buildup
Plaque and harmful bacteria are the root cause of most common oral health problems such as cavities, gum disease, and dental decay. Even though you may regularly brush and floss your teeth, your mouth can still be at risk of developing these issues. If your teeth are even slightly misaligned or crooked, it can create hideouts for bacteria and plaque to accumulate in and destroy your enamel, leaving your teeth susceptible to damage.
Your dentist and their team of professionals uses specially crafted tools such as scalers and dental mirrors to spot and clean out these hideouts that you can’t get to with a regular toothbrush. Not to mention, when you get your teeth regularly examined and cleaned, you can prevent small issues from getting worse.
Keep Your Bad Habits From Wreaking Havoc On Your Mouth
If you have bad oral habits like smoking or grinding and clenching your teeth, you may not realize what effects they’re having on your mouth. During your examination, your dentist can inform you about how these habits are impacting you, which could be exactly what you need to alter your lifestyle and prevent further damage.
Find Hidden Problems With X-Rays
Depending on your age and dental history, your dentist may order X-rays to search for problems that are hidden to the naked eye. This allows them to diagnose serious issues such as impacted wisdom teeth, bone decay, cysts, tumors, and swelling. Sometimes, these don’t exhibit symptoms and can be silently affecting your health, which is why routine X-rays are so critical in order to spot and treat them as soon as possible.
Instead of putting your visit with your dentist on the back burner and allowing the chance for small oral health problems to turn into big ones, save yourself headaches down the road and schedule your checkup and cleaning today!
About the Author
Dr. Donna Franklin-Pitts is an active member of six different professional organizations. She focuses on keeping up with the latest advancements in her field so she can provide everyone that walks through her doors with the highest quality of care. She takes the time to create individualized treatment plans for each of her patients and explain all procedures, so her patients feel comfortable with the care they’re receiving. For questions or to schedule a checkup and cleaning, visit Franklin Dental Center’s website or contact 903-593-2330.