Why is my regular dental visit so important?

Regular dental visits are important not only for your teeth, but for your whole body as well.

Your regular check up and active maintenance appointment (scale and clean) involves an examination of not only your teeth, but also your jaw joint, the soft tissues of your mouth including an oral cancer screening and assessment of the health of your gums.

Calculus (also known as tartar) that builds up in your mouth harbours bacteria. Bacteria grow below the gum line and release toxins that irritate your gum tissue causing inflammation. Inflammation causes the connective tissues and bone around your teeth to break down over time. This can lead to bad breath, yellowed teeth, gum infections, bone being eaten away from around the tooth and ultimately tooth loss. Your gum health has an overall impact on the general health of your body.

Recent research has shown that many health problems are linked to gum disease. Bacteria in the mouth and their by-products enter the blood stream through diseased gum tissue and spread freely through the body adding an increased risk of conditions such as heart disease, stroke, lung disease, diabetes, blood vessel damage, premature birth and low birth weight. Our active maintenance program at Elegant Smiles is for your general health, not just your dental health.