Dentistry

Even with regular brushing, it is important to have regular 6-month dental examinations and a 6-month dental cleaning to maintain healthy gums and prevent dental cavities. Due to busy lives, many Americans often brush less than the 3- to 5-minute recommendation needed to ensure proper brushing. One study showed that only 21 percent of men and 29 percent of women brush after every meal and even fewer floss on a daily basis. Among children, tooth decay is “the most common chronic disease affecting American children,” says the U.S. Surgeon General.

Although teeth and gums may appear healthy, regular dental appointments are still necessary since periodontal disease can be painless in its early stages and is not always discernable. In fact, today, as many as 75 percent of Americans have some form of periodontal disease, according to the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA). Left untreated, the irreversible effects of periodontal disease can result in tooth decay and even bone loss in its advanced stages. A regular dental check up will help identify symptoms of periodontal disease. Dental examinations include checks for sores, lesions and other abnormalities along with an oral cancer screening and x-rays of teeth and bones. Parents are recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA) to take their children to see the dentist no later than their first birthday.