8 Consequences of Missing your Regular Dental Visits

The American Dental Association, the leading authority on dental health, recommends that you visit the dentist every 6 months. However, for many people, this seems like a lot- especially with everything else they have going on. Unfortunately, missing these preventive maintenance visits can have a detrimental impact on your oral health.

HollowBrook Dental has been named the best dentist in Colorado Springs. We offer a variety of preventive, restorative, and cosmetic treatments for patients of all ages. In this article, we’ll explain some of the consequences of missing your regular dental visits.

8 Consequences

While visiting the dentist may seem like a hassle, there are many good reasons for not skipping your 6-month checkup and cleaning.

Bad Breath

While brushing and flossing regularly can help, it’s possible for bacteria, plaque, and tartar to collect in the hard-to-reach spaces in your mouth. When this happens, you end up with bad breath.

Tooth Stains

Plaque and tartar buildup will not only cause bad breath but will leave stains on your teeth, which will worsen if left untreated.

Plaque Buildup

Brushing and flossing removes most of the plaque from your teeth. However, there are some areas of your mouth that you can’t reach with a toothbrush and dental floss. If ignored, plaque will turn into tartar, which can lead to gum disease and eventually tooth loss if it is ignored long enough.

Gum Disease

When plaque builds up along the gumline and turns into tartar, your risk of gum disease increases. Most people don’t give it much thought but if your gums are red/inflamed, even if they are not hurting or bleeding excessively, you may have gingivitis. If left untreated, it can progress into periodontal disease, which can lead to additional consequences.

Tooth Loss

If left untreated, gum disease and cavities/tooth decay can lead to tooth loss. This means that you’ll need to consider tooth replacement options to avoid additional impacts on your oral and overall health.

Cavities/Tooth Decay

Cavities and tooth decay are the result of bacteria, plaque, and tartar buildup. These things eat away at the enamel, which allows bacteria to get further inside of the tooth, where it creates inflammation and infection. If left untreated, cavities/tooth decay can ultimately lead to tooth loss.

Abscesses/Infections

An abscess is a pimple-like infection that forms along the gumline near an infected tooth and, if left untreated, can spread to other parts of the body such as your heart or brain, and can be life-threatening.

Oral Cancer

When you visit the dentist, part of the examination is an oral cancer screening- especially if you are at an increased risk of cancer. If you avoid going to the dentist, you don’t get this screening, which means you may have it and not know it.

Don’t Put Off Going to the Dentist

While it may seem like a nuisance to visit the dentist every 6 months, you’re opening yourself up to a variety of oral and overall health issues if you don’t. HollowBrook Dental in Colorado Springs has been named the best dentist for several years in a row. We are a one-stop shop- we offer preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dental treatments for the entire family. Schedule your exam and cleaning today.