The Importance of Preventive Dental Care

I think we can all agree that it’s much easier to implement proper preventive care measures every day to reduce your risk for decay and gum disease rather than just waiting to treat the problem once it happens. According to the CDC, approximately one in four American adults have untreated tooth decay. Here’s why everyone can benefit from visiting our Bloomington, IN, family dentist Dr. Lisa Baker every six months for cleanings and dental checkups:

Prevent Oral Health Problems

This is the number one reason everyone, no matter how healthy they are, should visit a dentist twice a year. Even those patients who are thorough brushers and avid flossers can still miss spots, leaving plaque and tartar to buildup. If you don’t have plaque and tartar removed this can lead to decay and gum disease. While tartar cannot be removed with an at-home toothbrush, our Bloomington, IN, dental team has the right tools to remove it.

Early Detection

While the goal is always to enforce proper at-home oral care and positive habits to keep teeth and gums healthy, we know that sometimes problems still occur. Since many problems, particularly gum disease, don’t always cause symptoms many people may have serious oral health issues brewing that they don’t even know is happening. By coming in every six months we can pinpoint decay and other issues early on when they can either be reversed or properly managed without complications.

Screen for Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is another problem that may not always present with obvious symptoms or signs. Of course, our dental team knows exactly what to look for to detect suspicious growths, lesions and changes in tissue that you might overlook. An oral cancer screening is the most effective tool that we have for the early detection of oral cancer. This painless physical exam screening is performed during each checkup, only takes a minute to complete and could just save your life.

Is it time to schedule cleanings for the whole family? No matter when you last visited the dentist, it’s never too late to create a long, trusting relationship with Dr. Baker in Bloomington, IN, that will put you and your family’s needs first. Call our dental office at (812) 269-8230 today to schedule your next checkup!