Preventing dental health complications by visiting your dentist Gordon

Visiting your dentist Gordon regularly will allow you to keep your teeth clean, beautiful and free of decay or disease. It is important that you visit your dentist at least once every six months or more often if you are prone to dental health issues such as cavities or gum disease or if you produce more plaque than normal. Some patients have genetic predispositions to certain dental conditions such as gum disease, and in such cases, dental checkups become even more crucial.

Mouth cancer

The whole family needs regular dental checkups. Your dentist will carry out a thorough examination of your teeth and gums each time you visit, looking for any cavities, tooth decay or signs of gum disease. They will also examine the soft tissues of your mouth and look for abnormalities. Mouth cancer screening is very important because more than a thousand people die of mouth cancer in Australia every year, with more than 2,500 cases registered and a lifetime risk of 1 in 60 for men and one in 140 for women. If you visit your dentist regularly, they will be able to detect any abnormalities very early on and refer you to your doctor or a hospital immediately to prevent further complications. Early detection of mouth cancer is key to successful recovery and survival.

Patients who smoke or use other tobacco products also need to visit their dentists more often to ensure their teeth and gums are healthy and free of decay, disease and signs of abnormalities. Smokers have the highest chance of developing mouth cancer, and as this is a disease mostly detected by the dentist, you should visit your dentist once every four to six months to ensure good health and well-being.

You should also learn about smoking cessation to prevent further complications in the future. Smoking not only causes mouth cancer but is also very detrimental to dental health and can cause other diseases, including cardiovascular disease and an increased risk of cancers such as lung cancer, the most common type in Australia.

Tooth loss

Good dental health is very important for your well-being. If you suffer from ongoing dental health conditions, you may experience premature tooth loss. Tooth loss can have significant implications on all aspects of your life and affect the appearance of your smile and face. Missing teeth can make you look a lot older than you are and give negative impressions to other people. For example, people may think you do not take care of your teeth or health properly. It can affect your self-confidence and result in poor mental health.

Tooth loss also has a huge impact on the function of your mouth. You may not be able to bite and chew as you did before, which means you may not be able to enjoy your favourite foods. If you are missing teeth from the front of your mouth, this can affect how you speak. You may not be able to pronounce all your words properly, and you may find that you spit when you speak; once again, this can affect your self-confidence and mental health.

You must address missing teeth sooner rather than later because tooth loss can affect your remaining healthy teeth, causing them to become crooked or misaligned or even fall out within a short time. Speak to your dentist and find out about replacing missing teeth.

One of the most popular methods of replacing missing teeth is dental implants. Dental implants are a permanent solution for tooth replacement, and although the process can take up to six months, once in place, dental implants are designed to last a lifetime. You will need to speak to your dentist to determine whether you are eligible. Patients who suffer from dental health issues will need to have these issues treated before they can replace their missing teeth, and patients who smoke may not be eligible for implants until they quit smoking.

Speak to your dentist today to know more about looking after your teeth and gums, smoking cessation, replacing missing teeth and mouth cancer. Visiting your dentist regularly will help prevent such dental complications and improve your overall health and well-being.

Disclaimer

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.