While we may think brushing and flossing our teeth, and rinsing with mouthwash can help to combat tooth decay, it is also very important to your ongoing health to have regular check-ups with your dentist to ensure there are no untoward issues that might otherwise be overlooked.
From plaque and tartar build-ups to tooth decay and gum disease, it is important to catch the symptoms of oral problems at the earliest opportunity; so that remedial treatment can take place with the highest chances of success.
Tooth decay is a hugely common complaint that many people bring to the dentist’s attention. However, most people tend to wait until the symptoms of tooth decay are advanced, such as when they experience discomfort in a tooth, rather than take immediate action.
While brushing and flossing can help to maintain and protect our teeth against plaque, food debris and bacteria can accumulate during the day when we are unable to brush. The period between morning and night where we don’t brush allows bacteria to attack our teeth, weakening the enamel and slowly tooth decay will begin to set in. Once decay has set into a tooth, no amount of brushing or rinsing will remove it. Instead, a dentist will have to treat the tooth by removing any decay and filling the cavity left behind.
If early detection of tooth decay can be made before it becomes symptomatic, the decay can be quickly removed and treated so the tooth may be preserved. If the tooth decay becomes advanced, however, the dentist may be forced to use a more invasive dental technique to remove the decay, perhaps even removing the tooth altogether.
When detecting tooth decay, your dentist can sometimes do a visual inspection, but with the advanced equipment at their disposal, the dentist can determine whether tooth decay exists in areas that are not immediately visible. Gentle probing of suspect areas can reveal any softness in teeth which might indicate the onset of decay. Dental x-rays can also be taken to identify potential areas of concern, and can give an illustration of the tooth’s health.
If you are in need of a dental check-up or suspect tooth decay, contact the office of Drs. Russ and Sender, serving Westbury and nearby areas, today to schedule an appointment.