Have you missed a dental checkup or two lately? Has it been more than a year since your last visit? We have all missed a dental appointment or two throughout the years, and when financial hardships arise, routine dental care is often one of the first things to be postponed to a later date. While this may seem to save you a few dollars in the short term, it can be very costly to your bottom line, as well as your oral health, in the long run. Here are three very good reasons we believe regular dental care is important.

1. Catching dental problems early

When you have a regular dental checkup every six months, your Milwaukee dentist will carefully inspect your teeth for areas that may be making you more vulnerable to a build-up of bacteria and plaque. A small cavity that is easy to and fill, for instance, can turn into an expensive root canal or even a full tooth extraction if left untreated. Additionally, small chips, cracks, broken teeth and teeth that are tightly squeezed together create nooks and crannies for food particles to hide, and this can lead to other cavities and gum disease.

2. Keep an eye out for dental diseases

In addition to catching tooth decay, your dentist will help protect your oral health by preventing gum disease and looking for early signs of oral cancer. Both of these conditions are extremely treatable when caught early, but can become serious and expensive to treat if left undiagnosed and untreated.

3. Remove plaque and tartar build-up

No matter how dedicated you are to brushing your teeth twice daily and properly flossing with equal finesse, you are simply not able to remove all the tartar and plaque from your teeth. To begin with, tartar is an extremely hard substance that cannot be removed by any toothbrush. Tartar, a common cause of gum disease and tooth decay, can only be fully removed by a qualified dental hygienist using special dental instruments.

If you’re ready to learn more

If you’re ready to discover more about how you can protect your oral health with regular dental care, contact Milwaukee dentist Dr. Michael Westman for a consultation or to schedule an appointment. Dr. Westman and his professional staff are dedicated to helping you and your family avoid serious dental problems and maintaining excellent oral health.