Posted by Dental checkup in Merrimack
We’re focused on prevention here at Londonderry Family Dentistry. It’s the most effective method for promoting optimal oral health. And our dental checkups every six months is a big part of the strategy for keeping tooth decay and gum disease from causing serious damage.
Of course, your efforts at home are every bit as important in prevention. Eating a nutritious diet limited in sugar, brushing after meals, and flossing vigorously every day are all excellent ways to keep plaque from leading to problems. But since not all plaque is removed through home oral hygiene, and what remains hardens into tartar, which cannot be eliminated by brushing and flossing. Our dental checkups twice per year have two main purposes: first, the detection of any cavities while they are still small, so that they can be filled promptly by our Merrimack dentist. The larger a cavity gets, the more it puts you at risk for a bacterial infection getting inside the tooth and causing pain that will most likely be treated with root canal therapy. Second, a teeth cleaning will eradicate all of the plaque and tartar you have, giving you a brand new start on oral wellness. Your gums are also affected by plaque and tartar. Initially, they may become reddened or irritated, signs of gingivitis, the early stage. A teeth cleaning will usually stop gingivitis and reverse its effects so that it won’t progress to the advanced stage of periodontitis. Our Merrimack dentist will also analyze your occlusion (bite) and screen you for oral cancer as part of our dental checkups. X-rays are taken periodically, as a key way to detect cavities.
If maintaining strong teeth and healthy, vibrant gums is a priority for you, it’s a good idea to call us and schedule your six month visit with our Merrimack dentist.