When you first start growing baby teeth in infancy, you begin visiting your dentist for routine teeth cleanings. This regular attention from your dentist might seem to become a hassle as you grow into an adult, but it is crucial to maintain good oral health. And it can affect the health of the rest of your body too.
Taking care of your smile will keep the rest of you healthy as well. And research published in the Compendium of Continuing Education suggests that routine care from your dentist can lower the amount of money you spend on other health care.
While some people might worry about spending time and money on dental work, this preventative dental care can lead to major savings in the end. Read on to learn more about how this regular dental care can keep your medical expenses low.
How Does Oral Health Impact Overall Wellness?
At a routine dentist appointment, your dentist will clean your teeth and perform an oral health exam. The cleaning removes plaque and tartar build-up from your teeth. Though you practice oral hygiene at home, your toothbrush cannot always reach to effectively clean all areas of your mouth.
This can mean you have plaque lingering on your teeth, which can then spread your natural bacteria through your mouth. This results in a high risk for oral infections such as gum disease. These infections will create inflammation that can affect your body’s inflammatory response.
This complication will make it harder to manage certain chronic health issues like diabetes and heart disease. And you might also see a higher chance of developing other problems like arthritis and pneumonia.
To reduce your risk for these health concerns, you should address the likelihood of contracting oral infections and keep your smile clean. This will involve at-home care, but you will also need to attend routine dental check-ups. Preventative dental care like this will promote good oral health, avoid lasting dental damage, and keep the rest of you healthy too.
Worried About Dentistry Expenses?
Despite the clear health benefits, some people worry that seeking regular dental care will become expensive. But if you skip these routine appointments, you could have a higher chance of dental problems that could then lead to further complications. Dealing with doctors for these concerns could result in an even more costly bill.
Reduce the risk of needing urgent care from your doctor by seeking preventative dentistry on a routine basis. If you still feel concerned about the cost of this dental work, talk to your dentist’s office about your dental insurance coverage.
Most dental insurance plans will cover two teeth cleaning appointments each year, so you should take advantage of this. Your dentist can also let you know about other dental treatments that your annual premium can pay for. Do not delay this dental attention because you could see impressive overall savings from this care.