Have you scheduled a dental exam recently? Visiting your dentist in Salem, OR, Dr. Igor Sitnik of Sitnik Dental, can help you protect and maintain your oral health.
Why a dental visit should be on your calendar
The American Dental Association recommends visiting the dentist every six months. Dental visits are a must for these important reasons:
- You may not know you have a cavity: Cavities generally don't become painful until they're quite large. Unfortunately, if you wait to visit the dentist until you have tooth pain, you may need more than a simple filling. When you schedule regular checkups, your dentist can spot and treat cavities when they're small and haven't caused too much damage to your teeth.
- Gum disease is also a threat to your oral health: Cavities aren't the only oral health issue that can affect your oral health. Gum disease can damage your gum tissue and the ligaments and bones that hold your teeth in place. If the disease is severe, you may even lose teeth.
- Cleanings fill in oral hygiene gaps: Daily brushing and flossing is an excellent way to protect your oral hygiene, but it's easy to miss a few spots, particularly if a few of your teeth overlap. Fortunately, dental hygienists have special tools that allow them to remove plaque and tartar from out-of-the-way places. Scheduling regular cleaning is a simple way to reduce your cavity and gum disease risk.
- Your dentist can help you improve the appearance and function of your teeth: Are you unhappy with some aspect of your smile? Whether you're concerned about damage, stains, missing teeth, or other issues, your dentist offers treatments and services that can improve your smile.
- Visits help you maintain good oral and general health: During a visit to the Salem dental office, your dentist will perform an oral cancer screening. He'll also look for changes in your mouth that could indicate a health problem. For example, bleeding may be a sign of diabetes, thrush could mean you have an underactive thyroid, or a sudden change in oral hygiene might be an early sign of dementia.
Is it time to schedule your next dental visit? Call your Salem, OR, dentist, Dr. Igor Sitnik of Sitnik Dental, at (503) 363-5962 to make your appointment.