Are Your Teeth Worth $1.00 A Day?

Are your teeth worth $1.00 a day to you? That’s about what it costs if you see your dentist twice a year for dental exams and cleanings.

 

Why should you go to the dentist? Here are 5 Reasons:

  1. Early detection of cavities and damaged teeth can prevent complications, emergencies and expensive treatment.
  2. Professional cleaning and polishing removes tartar below your gumline (something only a dental office can do) to help prevent the leading cause of tooth loss in adults—gum disease! A professional cleaning removes plaque & calculus/tartar. It also removes the pellicle (thin layer over a tooth that attracts plaque) which is why your teeth feel so smooth after your cleaning. The pellicle comes back in about a day. A professional cleaning also removes gum irritants that over time will cause periodontal disease which decreases the risk of oral bacteria or inflammation affecting other areas of your body. In addition surface stains are removed from your teeth.
  3. A healthy mouth reduces the risk for overall health problems and complications. For example, heart, breathing, digestive, and reproductive systems are all connected to your oral health.
  4. Oral cancer screenings—your best chance of survival lies in finding oral cancer early.
  5. Setting a good example. 70% of kids have at least one cavity by grade 3.

 

Calculus/Tartar tricks you into thinking it belongs in your mouth. It is a hard deposit that adheres to your teeth and fills in spaces between the teeth that are supposed to be there. This means that your teeth may feel different (or you may notice that you can feel your teeth) after a professional cleaning.

 

Another common remark is that the “cleaning hurts”. Usually means your gums are sensitive because of the plaque and tartar/calculus. The longer you wait to have your teeth cleaned, the more sensitive your teeth and gums can become and your dentist or hygienist will have to do more work to remove the build up that is there. If you find your gums are sensitive you can ask about using a numbing gel, using a product such as Oraqix which acts quickly but is short acting, or being numbed as you would be for a filling.

 

Dental exams  are also important because they let us :

  • identify small problems before they become bigger and more expensive.
  • monitor for changes you can’t see in your mirror, haven’t noticed or don’t recognize as a potentially complex problem.

 

So if your teeth are worth $1.00 a day to you, please call 440-960-1940 today to reserve a time to take care of them.

 

Dr. Jennifer Robb is a general dentist located at 1612 Cooper Foster Park Rd., Lorain, OH 44053. You can learn more about many of the topics discussed in this article in the Patient Education section of her website at www.drjrobb.com You can also follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DrJenniferRobb