Even people who aren’t baseball fans know what happens after the third strike. You’re out! What about when it comes to dental hygiene? If you don’t brush your teeth… STRIKE ONE! If you don’t floss your teeth… STRIKE TWO! If you don’t have your teeth cleaned by a dentist in Naples… STRIKE THREE! But then what? Here are what happens if you don’t undergo regular — at least annual – teeth cleaning in Naples.
You’ll develop cavities
Even Florida’s best brushers and flossers can’t remove all plaque and tartar from your teeth. Unless accumulating plaque and tartar are removed with a dentist’s special tools during teeth cleaning near you, you’ll develop cavities that will need to be filled. Severe cavities that aren’t treated in time may require a root canal to eliminate the infection or even having that tooth pulled.
You’ll develop gum disease
Plaque and tartar along your gum line cause inflammation and irritation that will, eventually, cause receding gums and the development of pockets around your teeth. The accumulation of acids, sugars, bacteria, food, plaque and tartar in those pockets accelerates the development of gum disease until gum tissue is destroyed. Eventually, your teeth will loosen and may even fall out.
You’ll have bad breath
Plaque, tartar, and stains on your teeth are made up of millions upon millions of bacteria. The activity of those bacteria on food, sugars, starches and other substances in your mouth produces foul smells that no number of breath mints can hide for long. In the most extreme cases, bad breath may be a symptom of severe tooth infection — another potential side effect of not undergoing regular teeth cleaning in Naples.
You’ll lose the chance to detect oral cancer early
Early detection of the possible signs of oral cancer is key to improving survival rates and ensuring effective treatment. Your chances of surviving oral cancer are significantly better if cancer is detected before it spreads beyond your mouth. Attending regular dental checkups and dental cleanings at your dentist allows your dentist and their staff to screen you and examine your mouth for the earliest possible signs of oral cancer.
If you’re pregnant, your pregnancy may develop complications
The hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy make a woman much more susceptible to developing oral infections and gum disease. Those infections can, if left to progress and spread throughout your body via your bloodstream, will affect the health of a developing fetus, cause low birth weight, and even increase the risk of premature labour. Having your teeth cleaned regularly by a dentist near you is especially important during pregnancy to avoid these serious complications for you and your unborn child.
You’ll increase your risk of suffering chronic health problems
As if all of those potential consequences of neglecting your oral hygiene were not serious enough, failing to have your teeth cleaned regularly can put your general health at risk and increase the likelihood that you’ll suffer chronic disease. Research has established clear associations between neglected oral hygiene and an increased risk of chronic medical conditions including heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
Good dental hygiene is no mere game. To keep your teeth and mouth — and your whole body — healthy, follow three simple rules: Brush your teeth twice daily. Floss once a day. Have a dentist in Naples clean your teeth at least once annually.