Your dental health is heavily dependent on a few different things. How you care for your teeth at home and stay consistent with dental appointments are big factors. Despite the importance of visiting the dentist, 36% of Americans neglect to go to the dentist at least once a year, according to The Healthy Journal. Let's look at some of the consequences of procrastinating on your dental visits.

Tartar Buildup

One of the first things that will start to happen when you fail to visit the dentist regularly will be the buildup of tartar on your teeth. Tartar is the hardened form of plaque. Plaque forms on almost a daily basis and should be removed through regular brushing. However, regular brushing often doesn't remove all the plaque. During a routine dental cleaning, this plaque will be entirely removed from your teeth. Dentists can do this because they have the tools and products necessary to remove it more effectively than regular brushing. When you skip these visits, though, that plaque continues to build and will eventually harden into tartar, which is more difficult to remove and more damaging to your teeth.

Problems Left Unchecked

During your dental visits, the dentist will be checking your teeth, gums, and mouth for the development of any type of dental issues. When dental issues are caught early, you can undergo treatment to stop the progression of the problem. However, when you start skipping your dental visits, you won't have a heads-up on what could be developing. This means that problems could be developing that you're not aware of. Some issues, such as gingivitis, could become serious medical conditions if left untreated.

Missed Opportunities for Dental Improvement

A dental visit is a great time to talk to your dentist about options that might be available to help you with cosmetic dental issues. Teeth whitening, veneers, bonding, and other services are available to help you create the smile of your dreams.

There are many negative consequences of not visiting the dentist regularly and these are just a few. If it's time to get your dental health back on track, please contact us today at Groveland Dental. We are here for your dental needs. We look forward to hearing from you and working with you in the near future!