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Most health experts recommend you visit your dentist twice every year. The obvious reason for this is to have a cleaning and check on the state of your oral health. However, did you know there are more health reasons to see your dentist twice a year? Good dentists do more than check your mouth for cavities or gum disease. So, here are three non-dental related reasons to see your dentist more regularly:
Cancer Checks
Did you know that your dentist is trained to check for cancer of the mouth and throat areas during your checkup? You likely never even realized it at the time, but they move their hands around your neck and glands to see if there are any unusual things. Some common signs of throat cancer can be seen with a check like this, alerting the dentist to this issue early on. It is highly possible that a visit to your dentist can save your life if he/she picks up on early signs of cancer when it is easily treatable.
Sleep Apnea Diagnosis
Sleep apnea is a problem that affects millions of people globally. As per Laraway Family Dentistry, 1 in 5 adults will have some form of this condition in their lifetime. There’s a common misconception surrounding sleep apnea that suggests it’s just a severe form of snoring. In reality, it can potentially be life-threatening if untreated because it can interrupt a normal breathing pattern.
A dentist can look in your mouth and possibly see signs of dysfunctional parts of the mouth and throat, causing sleep apnea. At least, your dentist could raise some concerns, alerting you to potential problems to see your doctor about. In some cases, dentists can help with this condition with custom mouthguards that help your mouth stay in the proper position while sleeping. These types of mouth inserts can be prescribed by ENTs as well.
Early Signs of Diabetes
Another health condition that your dentist can spot is diabetes. The mouth can provide subtle signs of diabetes that you might not even notice yourself. These include fruity breath, gum disease, as well as cold sores, dry mouth, and oral thrush. These are all common indications that someone might be headed in that direction or already in full-blown diabetes, particularly if many of the signs exist together. Naturally, getting the right treatment for diabetes is essential for your well-being. If your dentist spots these signs, they can direct you to a medical professional for the right treatment before drastic measures must be taken.
All in all, seeing your dentist is beneficial beyond your oral health. Clearly, seeing your dentist for oral health is wisdom. It is useful to have these checkups as any dental issues can be spotted and taken care of/prevented before they become troublesome. It’s also clear that a dentist can spot many other health concerns as well. If you don’t have a regular dentist, I recommend that you find a good one in your area. For example, if you’re in the Phoenix area, do an online search for a Dentist in Phoenix, AZ who meets all of your needs. As you can see there are many reasons other than the obvious to see your dentist.
**** This post is strictly informational and is not meant to replace the advice of your healthcare provider. Women’s lifelink, its owners, administrators, contributors, affiliates, vendors, authors, and editors do not claim that this information will diagnose, treat, or improve any condition or disease.
