Putting off dental work, no matter how minor it seems, can actually be rather detrimental. Here are 5 reasons you shouldn't wait.
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Stave off Gum Disease
Even if your oral hygiene routine is flawless, you are not immune to gum disease. There are small crevices in your mouth that can't be reached, except by a professional cleaning. Early stages of gum disease are practically undetectable.
As it progresses, your inflamed gums let bacteria below the gum line, and attack your teeth and bone. Eventually your teeth can become loose and fall out. Scaling and root planing can give your gums the chance they need to heal, preventing any serious consequences.
Avoid Infections
If you crack or break a tooth, and the damage extends into the pulp, you run the risk of bacteria entering. Once in the pulp, the bacteria can lead to an infection inside your tooth and cause an abscess. An infection can spread into the bloodstream, and eventually cause all kinds of other health issues, including heart problems, high blood pressure and even stroke. Cracks can often be fixed with bonding or, in more serious cases, a crown.
Keep Your Teeth
Gum disease is one of the most common causes of tooth loss. However, teeth may need to be extracted for several reasons. Severe damage, serious infection, or a tooth that is in anyway unsalvageable all, often calls for an extraction. But if you seek treatment as soon as you notice something is wrong, you have a better chance of saving your teeth, and therefore your jawbone.
Better Health
If you have lost teeth, they should be replaced. Missing teeth not only affects your ability to chew and speak, but also affects your digestion as well. This can lead to severe poor digestion, and therefore poor health. Replacing your teeth, be it with dentures or implants, can restore your chewing ability, and therefore give you better digestion and better overall health.
Prevent More Serious Procedures
Many dental issues start small. However, the longer you put them off, the worse they become. And the worse they are, the more serious the procedure will need to be to fix the damage done. Getting dental work done early saves your health, prevents you from needing a more intensive procedure, and can save you money.
No matter how minor your dental issues seem, you should get them looked at by your dentist. If you have reservations about going, contact the office and learn just how the office can help you deal with your anxiety, and give you back your oral health.