You just caught a reflection of your pearly whites somehow, and you at first glance you thought there was some distortion staring back at you. How could it be that the pearly whites were somehow a dingy gray? Then you decide actually to go to a mirror bright enough to show every pore on your face. This showed you even more of what was going wrong in there.
You are now perplexed on how all of a sudden a quick glimpse at yourself has you becoming a detective. What you thought was a perfect smile is now full of mystery. You find all sorts of things happening in there. You find little black dots that look like pepper on a few teeth. Some redness and puffiness on your gums and oddly enough what looks like a crack in another! And don’t forget that those pearly whites are not that white anymore!
So what does all this mean? You can’t remember the last time you had a dental exam. The thought of sitting in a chair to be told you need to floss every day and brush twice a day reminds you of being a child. The fear overcomes you of what trouble you are in for not taking care of this critical part of your body as an adult. But as an adult, you know that it is crucial to take care of your oral health as much as it is to eat right and exercise.
So why do we let this happen? 38% of all adults ages 18-64 have not been to the dentists in the past year according to the CDC. So this means over a one-third of all adults are neglecting a significant part of their healthcare. You may think that going to the dentist is all about the usual kinds of issues, such as pain or cleanings. But did you know that going to the dentist can be a window to many other problems going on in your body?
Taking care of your oral healthcare can help you to understand the concerns you might be having. Worn teeth might mean you are under stress. Sores that don’t heal could mean cancer. Gum disease is higher with people with types 1 and 2 diabetes. Some premature births are also connected to periodontitis. A routine dental exam may reveal problems with your bones, heart, or digestion because certain warning signs live inside your mouth.
So next time you catch your smile in a reflection, make sure you have had your yearly check-ups taken care of. And if you find that you are having any issues in your mouth, make sure you call us to get in right away. A healthy smile is a happy smile.
