It’s not just limited to young kids: many people in Sydney are afraid to visit the dentist. This can be for a number of reasons: while children are terrified by the sounds and exaggerated stories they hear about trips to the dentist, some may have an irrational fear of dentists, they may have a negative experience where they experienced pain, or they’re simply afraid of finding out that their dental condition will cost them a lot of money.
Avoiding the dentist isn’t going to make the problem go away. People who avoid the dentist for whatever reason are more likely to have poorer oral health because they failed to get regular checkups that could have stopped a disease or condition from getting worse.
But isn’t it time we changed this?
The Importance of Visiting Your Dentist
Proper oral health and regular dental checkups every six months can lead to better dental health. Not only do your teeth stay relatively healthy, your dentist can spot symptoms and signs of various diseases before they spread or grow worse.
If it’s the irrational fear or pain you’re afraid of, don’t worry. Plenty of dentists in Sydney and the rest of Australia are very capable of guiding you through each treatment and what to expect when it’s your turn on the dentist’s chair. Some processes will have certain degrees of pain, but think of it this way: would you rather have little to no pain by getting a regular checkup, or do you want to risk developing a dental disease that could result in teeth replacements like dental implants (which may be more painful in the long run)?
As people continue to put off their biyearly or yearly visit to the dentist, it becomes easier to do as a person can become embarrassed showing their dentist the state of one’s teeth and gums. In some cases, a person may only decide to visit their dentist when they show severe signs of tooth pain, bleeding gums, and infection – more serious symptoms that require more treatment.
Oral Health and Your Overall Health
If you think your oral health is limited to your mouth, think again. Multiple studies link poor oral health and diseases that come from it (such as gum disease) to other bodily conditions. In one example, researchers found a link to gum disease with reduced cognitive function and Alzheimer’s disease when they found that the bacteria commonly found in cases of periodontitis were also in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.
In another study, researchers found that bacteria in the gums can make its way to your blood and cause inflammation, which could lead to heart damage. Other studies also suggest a link to other diseases such as erectile dysfunction, lung disease, and cancer.
By speaking with a dentist during a checkup, they will be able to give sound advice that is unique to their patient’s condition, enlightening them to the health of their mouth and what they can do to improve it. Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
