Preventative Maintenance For Your Irreplaceable Smile

You know the old saying: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure. At Harris Dental in Phoenix, we are big advocates of preventative dentistry as the best way to maintain dental health.

Preventative dentistry, though, is about more than healthy teeth and gums. Your dental health is directly related to your overall health. Poor dental health has been linked to various diseases and conditions, such as heart disease, premature birth and low birth weight, and diabetes.

Furthermore, poor dental health also leads to gum disease. With regular brushing and dental checkups, gum disease is 100 percent preventable.

More Reasons

The above should be enough to get anyone in to the dentist’s office twice a year. But if it isn’t, here are three more very good reasons why you should get a cleaning and checkup every six months.

• Plaque and tartar. Even with brushing and flossing twice a day, plaque can build up on the teeth and gums. Plaque hardens into tartar. Simply put, there are areas in the mouth that your floss and toothbrush just cannot reach. Professional cleanings, however, can.
• X-rays. By taking dental x-rays and updating them regularly, we can detect problems that a simple visual inspection won’t turn up. The sooner new issues are treated, the better: treatment will be easier, less painful, and less expensive.
• Oral cancer. It isn’t just smokers who need to be concerned about oral cancer; anyone can get it. Finding it in its earliest stages gives you the best chance for successful treatment and a full recovery. We can check for any symptoms, and if we find them, tell you what you need to do.

There are lots of great reasons to see us at Harris Dental in Phoenix twice a year for a checkup. People from Queen Creek, Scottsdale, and Mesa come to our office for general and cosmetic dentistry. Call for an appointment today!