Too many people make the mistake of skipping out on regular checkups with their dentist. It could be because the lives of many adults can be somewhat hectic, it could be out of fear of the dentist, or it could come from a common misunderstanding such as only kids need to see the dentist regularly. You will find that it is very important for you to make a yearly appointment for a thorough checkup, as well as twice yearly cleanings. To help you understand why this is of such importance, you will want to review the following points.

Early Signs Of Cancer Could Be Missed

If you are not a medical professional that is well versed in spotting signs of oral cancer, you could have some symptoms of it and not even know it. However, if you were to make sure that you are going for all of your dental checkups, you will be more likely to have cancer spotted sooner, rather than later. A dentist can see the signs of possible cancer when they are examining your mouth and then send you for testing. The sooner oral cancer is caught, the easier it can be to treat.

You Could End Up With A Nasty Infection

A cavity can go from barely noticeable to intense pain and infection in a very short amount of time. There are some people who have bad cavities in their teeth but because they do not feel any pain, they don't know that they need to get the cavities filled. During the yearly examine, you will have some x-rays done, which will allow the dentist to see areas of your teeth that cannot be seen by a simple examination. For example, a cavity can form on the side of the tooth that is pressed against other teeth, making it impossible for you to see on your own. Only a thorough examination and x-ray will find that cavity before it gets so bad you have to have antibiotics for an infection or possibly even have the tooth pulled.

Now that you have a clearer understanding of why this is so important, you will want to make sure that you are getting on the phone to schedule your next checkup. If you haven't had a checkup in a very long time, you will need to ask to be seen as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the worse off your oral health can become. For more information, talk to dentists like Michael G Landy DDS.