Why You Shouldn’t Miss an Appointment with Your Dentist

Image of smiling patient looking at camera at the dentist?s

It is highly recommended for everyone to make dental appointments at least every six months. However, some people go as long as three years or more without visiting their dentist!

This is alarming. Why do Canadians skip their dental appointments? There may be a number of reasons, including busy schedules, forgetfulness, dental anxiety, and more. However, the more important question that you should be asking is “Why shouldn’t I miss my dental appointment?”  Well, let us enumerate the reasons.

Missing an Appointment Turns Minor Issues into Major Problems

When you visit your dentist on a regular basis, any potential problem will be caught in the early stages and they will be treated easily. For instance, let’s take gum disease which has three stages – gingivitis, periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis. If caught early, gingivitis can be addressed by a thorough dental cleaning. However, if you skip your appointment, it could progress to periodontitis and may require your teeth to be extracted or a surgery to be performed. You can avoid the hassle and costly treatment if you go to your dentist when you are supposed to go.

Thorough Cleaning

Daily brushing and flossing is important, but that’s not all you need to achieve the best oral health possible. After all, oral care that you do at home may be really good, but it is still limited. For instance, there are hard to reach areas in your mouth and there may be hardened plaque that has turned into tartar. As you know, tartar cannot be removed by simply brushing or flossing. A visit to Pickering Square Dental at least once every six months can ensure that all plaque and tartar is removed from your teeth.

Regular Screening for Oral Cancer

Just like you would go to a doctor to have general check-ups and make sure that everything is well, you should visit your dentist so you can be screened for potential problems. Among the many health concerns that can be detected during a dental check-up is oral cancer. At its later stages, this type of cancer is nearly impossible to treat and highly deadly. The key, therefore, is early detection. Oral cancer screening is undeniably one good reason to keep your dental appointments.

The best way to be sure that you have the best oral health possible is to do your part in keeping it that way. That means building an efficient oral care routine at home and making it to your dental appointments. Prioritize your oral health and you’ll have a greater chance of preventing any dental problems and keeping a truly beautiful smile. Contact Pickering Square Dental now and schedule your next appointment with us!

Summer Fun: Keep Your Teeth Safe

Summertime is the perfect time to be with your family and friends, and have fun under the sun! Since you will probably be thinking about all the good things you will be doing, you might neglect your teeth – but you shouldn’t. Here are some tips on how you can keep your teeth safe and shiny this summer:

Rinse your mouth after swimming
The acidity of the water in swimming pools can affect your tooth enamel. In order to prevent this from happening, rinse with clean water throughout the day as well as after swimming. Brushing your teeth within an hour of pool time should be avoided as the enamel might still be vulnerable. 

Drink enough water
Dry mouth contributes to cavities so it is important that you drink enough water to stay hydrated throughout the whole day. This is not just for your teeth, but for your overall health as well. (so-so)

Use straws when drinking fresh coolers
Drinking lemonades, sodas, and other sweet and acidic drinks can be bad for your teeth. Help your teeth by drinking through straws – this limits the impact of the acids on your teeth. You should also rinse with water after drinking sugary or acidic drinks as this helps, too. 

Brush your teeth after eating sweets
Hard candies soak your teeth in sugar for a long time while sticky candies, on the other hand, get stuck on your teeth. In order to protect your teeth and gums from too much sugar, you should brush and floss after these types of treats. If that’s not possible, you can just rinse with water or you can also chew sugarless gum, instead. 

Use proper protective equipment
When you are playing contact sports, make sure you use mouth guards accordingly. It doesn’t just protect your teeth, but it also helps prevent concussions. There are different types of mouth guards that are appropriate for different kinds of sports. To make sure that you are using the right one, it is best to consult Dr. Lean and his Team. 

We encourage you to take special care of your teeth during the summer. Brushing and flossing your teeth daily are important especially when you’re on vacation. Summer can also be the best time to catch up on your missed dental appointments. Here at Pickering Square Dental, we make sure that we prioritize all our patients’ teeth. We provide the best dental services we can give for our valued patients. Call us today!