Dentists - Why Do We Need To Go and Should We Fear Them?
Posted: Sunday, April 12, 2009
by Samuel James
http://lookingafteryourteeth.blogspot.com/
We all should go to the dentist twice a year, but why?
We are brushing twice a day, Flossing once a day, Using Mouthwashes, our teeth look healthy and white.
The answer, Prevention. Prevention of gum disease, tooth decay and any other conditions that may risk our dental health.
Everyone has been to the dentist at some time in there lives, especially when young, there is not such a fear factor when you are at a young age. But as you get older fear comes it to it, being afraid to go to the dentist is a very common phobia.
When you do go to the dentist they will ask you what care you have taken of your teeth since your last visit (which in some cases may have been years.) They will then continue to check the health of your teeth, gums and mouth tissue. Dentists will use a probe and mirror to check the crown of every one of your teeth, they check these for either plaque, decay or general looseness. In relation to your gums they should be firm and pink, if they are soft, red and/or swollen it could be a sign of gum disease.
Also on top of this dentists will check the to see if you have any pockets (deep depressions) where the tooth meets the gum. If you have healthy teeth and gums and no sign of gum disease they should only be slight depressions rather than deep as mentioned above. When having a thorough check up the dentist will take x-rays of your mouth, this could flag up tooth decay or even abscesses.
After your teeth have been checked the dentist may recommend a professional clean. By having a professional clean they can remove tough plaque/bacteria build ups and will also polish your teeth which will get rid of unwanted stains (yellowness). Your dentist will run through this in more detail.
If the dentist finds a cavity you will need to return to have it filled at a later date, or if you have other issues you may be referred to an orthodontist.After your teeth have been checked the dentist may recommend a professional clean. By having a professional clean they can remove tough plaque/bacteria build ups and will also polish your teeth which will get rid of unwanted stains (yellowness). Your dentist will run through this in more detail.
It is recommended that you visit the dentist for a check up twice a year, if you do, it will only cost a small amount. Say if you do not look after your teeth at home and still do not visit the dentist regularly you could be looking at massive dentistry costs in years to come. How many people can afford unplanned dentistry works? Especially if you a struggling to pay bills at the moment.
Even if you have a healthy routine you still need these regular check ups, some people do not go to the dentist either because of fear or because they feel they do not need to, at the end of the day the dentist is the one who knows whats best for our teeth, what we think may be clean may actually not be.
Going back to the fear / phobia of dentists, or the dentist chair. If I sit back and think about the dentist I automatically think of them standing over you and drilling or pulling out a tooth. A few years ago, when I was neglecting my teeth, I had a tooth pulled out at a local dentist. I knew it was going to be done beforehand and was dreading it, to make it worse it was a cold night and when I came out my tooth absolutely killed (so to speak) I said I would never go again. But when you think logically, if you look after your teeth with regular brushing, flossing and not eating too many sugary items then you should never need to have a tooth pulled out or major work done. Going to the dentist for a check up does not involve any pain, so in fact there is now no fear factor.
Now I make sure I look after my teeth at home, while still having the twice yearly check ups, so I can hopefully avoid expensive dentistry work in the future.
So is it the dentist we need to fear or ourselves for not looking after our teeth?
Samuel James
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Top-level comments on this article: (10 total)You would have to ask that last question. ha! Very well written with sound advice. Another great job! TeresaThanks again for your kind comments
Good info. I personally would go to the dentist once a month for the free floss, toothpaste and toothbrush. And because he's really cute and single. Pretty shallow, huh?If only there were more hansome single dentists, a lot more people would probably go :-)thanks for commenting
Great article. Well done.The dentist for me at times is quite pointless. As I have never needed any dental treatment.I agree with you that the dentist is important and there is a need to see him however. It is - as you say - for prevention.Thanks for commenting. I too thought the dentists was less important than what they actually are. In a way i did not appreciate them until i needed them.In the UK it is very hard to get a NHS dentist so you feel very lucky if you can get one. So many people pay hundreds of pounds to go private.
Great advice, Samuel. Sometimes I think we fear going to the dentist because we know we didn't floss like he told us to--at least that's my reason. I go twice a year to have my teeth cleaned. I've been lucky and haven't had a cavity in many, many years. I'm hoping my teeth will last me to the end.Thanks for sharing and welcome to searchwarp.SandraI remember when i was younger, i hardly looked after my teeth until a couple of weeks before an appointment. Thankfully i know better now and look after them a lot better than i once did. Glad all is well with you and thankyou for commenting.
Samuel,I'm having a dilemma with doctor visits at this point. I so appreciate this write!Thankyou for reading, hope all is well
Samuel, your title even made me cringe! I don't like to go to the dentist at all, but you have reminded me that it is necessary.Thanks for reading and commenting.
I am in desparate need of a dentist, but unfortunately can't afford to go. I am a missionary, so to speak and live by faith. A cap fell out and another tooth on the other side lost its filling. I hope that I will someday meet a nice dentist who can help me and donate his efforts. I know it should not be neglected, but it is one place I avoid anyway, simply because dentists seem to be gold diggers and are looking for problems. Not everyone has 1,000s to spend on caps. I think my body is finally rejecting the artifical stuff in my mouth.Thanks for your feedback. I can not argue with the fact that some dentists may seem motivated solely by money, but there are ofcourse good ones out there who do it for the love of the job and too genuinely help people. When you do find that good dentist, you should stay with them, unless you move away from that area. I hope you do find a dentist to donate his time.
I know, I know, I have been trying to get an appointment honest. I will call again todayThanks for commenting
Good reminder--thanks
Samuel,Very good article. I was raised to take care of my teeth -- as important as the rest of my health. I can't imagine not going to the dentist. It is something that should be done twice a year.Thank you for good advice,NancyThankyou for your comments. If you know from a young age how important your teeth are and how to look after them, you will carry that through the rest of your life.
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