8 Reasons Why Regular Dental Checkups are Essential

Part of keeping your teeth healthy involves consistent care from professionals. Here are reasons why regular dental checkups are essential.

According to the CDC, only 64.9% of US adults have at least one dental visit every year. To put it into perspective, nearly half of the US adults don’t cherish dental checkups. That’s worrying since regular dental checkups have many benefits to your oral health.

A dental checkup appointment is among the most critical dates in your schedule. In some cases, people overlook them due to the other prioritized activities at work. As a result, they postpone them or skip the whole dental checkup entirely.

Postponing the dental checkup exposes you to the risk of oral health problems.



Wondering why you need regular dental checkups? Below is a breakdown of 8 reasons why going to the dentist regularly is essential.

1. Deep Clean for Your Teeth

Your mouth is a hotbed of bacteria which makes it hard to do away with them at once. A visit to your dentist for a deep clean will leave your mouth bacteria-free.

Plaque buildup is unavoidable since it occupies areas in your mouth that are hard to reach. The plaque hardens over time and turns into tartar which is harder to remove. A dirty mouth can be evident through yellow teeth caused by plaque buildup.



You need a deep clean for your teeth, and who's better than your dentist? A deep clean leaves your mouth squeaky clean, keeping oral health problems at bay. The dentist, therefore, leaves you with a whiter smile that you can show confidently.

2. Reduce Tooth Decay

Cavities are a massive problem for your oral health, so it’s essential to realize them early. The dentist in Laurel, MD, will help you reduce tooth decay if you visit them often.

Tooth decay starts with the tartar creating holes on your crown. Cavities can be hard to control even with regular cleaning since the decay spreads fast. Once it reaches the root of your tooth, it results in excruciating pain, which forces you to lose the tooth.



Dentists detect cavities early and stop the decay from spreading by inserting fillings. Therefore, regular dental checkups reduce tooth decay and are thus essential.

3. Prevent Gum Disease

Reports indicate that gum disease affects nearly half of US adults aged 30 and older. The figure increases as people get older, which is worrying.

Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss among adults. Therefore, it’s essential to prevent it completely to avoid dealing with the outcomes.



Periodontal diseases result due to the infections caused by tartar buildup. The infections start at the base of your teeth and spread to the gum and the bone. Regular checkups will prevent gum disease, hence saving you from tooth loss.

4. Keep Bad Habits Away

I’m sure you think you’re doing everything right to maintain your oral health. Some of your habits might affect your oral health, so you should keep them in check. Regular dental checkups familiarize you with your bad habits, so they help you solve them.

Some of the bad habits include:

• Teeth grinding

• Eating sugary foods

• Biting your nails

• Chewing on ice

• Brushing teeth and gums excessively hard



Dentists spot these problems and inform you how you’re harming your teeth. They thus recommend techniques to stop these bad habits and promote oral health.

5. Protect Dental Work

Have you had some dental work done on your mouth before? If yes, you’d want to protect the results at all costs, right? Scheduling dental checkups is necessary to protect dental work.

If you have dental implants or accessories, your oral care is different from the ordinary. You need to avoid infection or decay on such dental work. It can be tough to fix and also uncomfortable for you.



Your dentist Laurel, MD, checks the condition of the gum and jaw that supports your dental work. They, therefore, can protect your dental work, thus improving dental health.

6. Save You Money

Do you think that skipping a dental checkup will save you money? Think again! Postponing your dental checkup is a considerable expense in the future.

Simple procedures are relatively inexpensive and prevent huge oral problems in the future. Delaying your dental checkup appointment causes extensive oral problems that are hard to treat. You, thus, undergo complex procedures like root canal surgery that are expensive.



Your dentist Laurel, MD, also offers flexible financing options to make payments easy. You, therefore, don’t have to worry about how much the checkups cost.

7. Help You Sleep Better

Everyone wants a good night’s sleep, but it can be challenging if you have a bad tooth. Therefore, regular dental checkups help you sleep better, which is invaluable.

Dental checkups realize problems early, thus helping prevent them from being uncomfortable. Eradicating the discomforts can be key to helping you sleep better.



For people with sleep apnea, the dentist recommends solutions to prevent it totally. Therefore, you’ll reduce teeth grinding during sleep, making it comfortable for you.

8. Can Help Save Your Life

Did you know that you risk getting oral cancer by not going to the dentist? Dentists help you detect oral cancer early and can help save your life.

Oral cancer is serious and deadly if not treated early like all other cancer types. It’s therefore essential to diagnose it early before it becomes life-threatening.



A regular dental checkup helps with early detection, ensuring the problem is treatable. You can therefore prevent cancer spread which essentially contributes to your well-being.

Regular Dental Checkups Are Worth Your Effort

Dental checkups are among the things you have to prioritize in your schedule. Postponing a dental visit can have some severe repercussions for your overall well-being. The above guide highlights the reasons that make regular dental checkups essential.

Looking for a dentist in Laurel, MD? Garland K. Davis, DDS Family Dentistry, got you covered!

We’re your trusted dentist offering full-range dental treatments suitable for your family. We help you understand your treatment for comfort throughout our procedures.

Contact us today to schedule your dental checkup.