Many consider dental cleanings small and trivial, especially in the grand scheme of life. It’s to the point that going without them can seem like a very tempting choice. Even so, you mustn’t look down on regular trips to your dental practice; bad things will happen if you skip a dental cleaning. Your local Dyer dentist will even prove these latter facts with evidence. So, here are four likely outcomes of skipping your regular dental cleanings.
Your Teeth Will Decay
Your teeth benefit from good oral hygiene, but daily brushing and flossing aren’t enough to protect them. They’ll likely start to decay if you go without a dental cleaning.
As it turns out, your mouth has many places that a toothbrush can’t reach well. This fact means plaque will still grow in your mouth if you don’t see a dentist often enough. Over time, such buildup would eat away at your tooth enamel and cause cavities, tooth infections, or worse. You’d then need invasive dental work like a root canal or tooth extraction.
You’ll Likely Get Gum Disease
It isn’t just your teeth that’ll suffer without a dental cleaning. If you skip this trip to your dentist, you’ll face a higher risk of gum disease.
One of your mouth’s “hard-to-reach places” is the area below your gumline. Since that’s the case, plaque can easily get wedged in your gum tissues without regular dental care. Skipping a cleaning would thus give bacteria more chances to inflame and infect your gums. From that point, you’d likely develop gum disease and suffer its worst effects – gum recession, bleeding gums, and tooth loss.
Oral Cancer Will Go Undetected
Maybe your smile will be fine if you skip a dental cleaning. Instead, perhaps you’ll have a case of oral cancer that goes undetected longer.
Many don’t know, but dental cleanings screen patients for oral cancer. This screening work often occurs as the dentist checks your mouth and cleans your teeth and gums. Given that fact, skipping your cleaning could give oral cancer more time to spread without your knowledge. This spread could make your cancer untreatable and more likely to result in death.
Your Physical Health Will Decline
A skipped cleaning will undoubtedly threaten your grin. However, it could also make your physical health slowly decline.
Evidence shows a strong link between oral health and physical health. As the mouth becomes inflamed by plaque and other microbes, harmful bacteria can travel to the rest of a patient’s body. This movement through the bloodstream can put you at a higher risk of heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes. Needless to say, such conditions will cause your body to weaken and decline.
Given the points above, you should never skip a dental cleaning. Make sure to see your dental provider for your next one soon!
About the Practice
Advanced Dental Concepts is based in Dyer, IN. Led by Drs. Danny Hayes and Anas Khan, our practice stands apart by offering truly comprehensive dentistry. Patients can see us for preventive, cosmetic, and even restorative treatments, as well as emergency dental care. That means we’re able to give whole families the stunning smiles they’ve always wanted! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (219)-322-3418.