Common Misconceptions About Routine Dental Visits

Visiting the dentist is rarely on someone’s bucket list. It seems more accurate to place this “chore” on the “the dental police are going to come take me away” list instead. Unfortunately, a few common misconceptions have colored the way people see the routine dental visit. By overcoming some of these common misconceptions, you can take a proactive approach to your oral health.

A lot of people think that taking care of one’s baby teeth is non-essential. After all, they’re just going to fall out and be replaced by permanent teeth, right? You might be surprised to find out that not caring for baby teeth can lead to lifelong oral health issues.

When a young child visits the dentist, they can learn proper brushing techniques and establish a healthy habit. While children can and should be taught to brush at home, having a hygienist teach them proper technique will serve to reinforce and encourage them to develop excellent brushing and flossing skills. The oral hygiene patterns developed in early life can help maintain a healthy mouth over a lifetime.

By making sure your child goes for routine dental visits, you can be sure that other oral health issues are not missed. For instance, your child’s jaw may be misaligned or your child might need early orthodontic care. As children begin to lose baby teeth, overcrowding can occur when permanent teeth grow in. Going to see the dentist early in life also helps the child become comfortable with the process of having a dental checkup and helps solve oral health problems early. This often results in successful treatment of the issues discovered.

Another misconception is that you only need to go to the dentist if you are having mouth or tooth pain. Unfortunately, by the time you are in pain there is usually some sort of issue that must be dealt with quickly. This can be avoided by seeing your dentist twice a year, as recommended by the Surgeon General and the American Dental Association. When you go for your semi-annual exam, your dentist can work with you to proactively deal with oral health concerns.

Many adults also believe the idea that oral problems only “pop up” after they’ve been for a cleaning. It is more likely, however, that you are more aware of your oral health immediately following a routine exam and cleaning. While some problems may have to be treated after your cleaning, these problems do not occur because of the cleaning. Perhaps your hygienist noticed something and brought it to your attention, or maybe the cleaning irritated an existing condition. Running from oral health problems only makes them worse, so it’s best to get them resolved as soon as possible.

It is also commonly thought that old age leads to dentures, so there’s no need to see the dentist and keep the teeth healthy. Actually, you will find that there are some younger adults that need dentures and some elderly adults that still have all of their own teeth. Oral hygiene habits and excellent dental care go a long way to preventing the need for dentures at any stage of your life.