By now you have established a consistent routine when it comes to taking care of your grin. From brushing and flossing regularly to paying attention to what you are ingesting, keeping up with your dental hygiene is a top priority and one that should not be taken lightly. That being said, ensuring that you have a professional to assess your oral health and ensure everything is up to par is necessary for maintaining a strong grin for life, which is why your Houston, TX dentist at Healthy Smiles Family Dentistry wants you to know the importance of attending your regularly scheduled examinations and what occurs during your visit.
Examining for Potential Harm
When you visit our office, our team will carefully but thoroughly examine your mouth for any signs of damage or potential harm, such as chipped or cracked teeth, cavities, inflamed or discolored gums, and more. Your dentist will also take care to examine surrounding structures in order to spot any abnormalities such as red or white patches or rough textures on the tongue, cheeks, throat, and roof of the mouth. While you can perform a self-assessment at home, having a trained eye that can utilize proper tools aids tremendously in detecting problems early on, providing a better chance at preventing serious dental concerns down the line.
Bacteria Removal
In addition to identifying points of concern, your dentist will perform a cleaning in order to rid your mouth of harmful bacteria buildup and plaque deposits. Plaque is the sticky film that coats teeth due to bacteria buildup and food particles. If it is left untreated, it can begin to calcify and form tartar, which is even more difficult to remove. The dangers of these phenomena are that they house bacteria and provide a barrier of protection that permits the bacteria to thrive and cause problems down the line, including decay and gum disease. As the bacteria continue to grow and break down your natural structures, even larger problems arise such as tooth loss that will require restorative measures to fix. By attending a checkup at least once every six months, you can increase your smile’s lifespan significantly.
Oral Cancer Screening
While it may not seem like a concern at the forefront of one’s mind, oral cancer can become present in anyone, including children. With advanced technology, your dentist will perform a screening to ensure this threat is not present. Your dentist will thoroughly check the roof of your mouth, the bottom of your mouth, tongue, cheeks, and back of the throat for any signs of discoloration, rough patches, lumps, or other abnormalities that may be indicative of cancer. For more information about this procedure, schedule your appointment today.
Schedule Your Checkup Today
To schedule your routine checkup or for more information about what is included in the visit, contact Healthy Smiles Family Dentistry in Houston, TX today by calling 281-974-4494.
