Think You Can Skip Seeing Your Dentist in Springfield? Don’t Bet on It

One of the keys to successful living is to invest wisely. This means not only saving money for retirement and rainy days but also taking care of our health. That’s why seeing your dentist in Springfield for regular cleanings and checkups is so crucial to your well-being. Otherwise, you put yourself at risk for tooth decay, gum disease, and other serious issues.

An Ever-Present Threat

We don’t want to frighten you, but inside your mouth right now are millions of microscopic life forms bent on causing you harm. We’re talking about decay-causing bacteria, the kind that survive by poaching nutrients from the foods you eat.

These creatures secrete corrosive acids that, over time, can erode your teeth’s protective enamel coating, leaving the vulnerable material inside open to infection. When this happens, the consequences can go far beyond a simple toothache, affecting every aspect of your overall health.

Regular brushing and flossing, eating a healthy diet, staying physically active, limiting consumption of sweets, and avoiding tobacco products are all effective ways to combat these bacterial invaders. But, by themselves, they’re just not enough. You need the kind of added care provided by modern dentistry. Here’s why:

• Daily self-care can minimize the buildup of plaque and tartar on your teeth. But only a dental professional can provide the kind of deep-cleaning needed to remove them entirely.
• Much of what affects your oral health takes place below your gumline in the jaw itself. Diagnosing potential problems requires dental x-rays, like the kind your dentist will perform when you make an appointment with him or her.
• Dental care is always advancing. New treatments and new techniques enable ever more comfortable and effective treatments all the time. But you’ll never reap the benefits from this research if you don’t see your dentist on a regular basis.
• Regular dentist visits enable your healthcare provider to track your well-being over time. That kind of information can make all the difference to your recovery, should a serious health concern arise.

Skipping a Dentist Visit Is an Expensive Gamble with No Payoff

There are all kinds of smart ways to save money. Cutting back on discretionary purchases and sticking to a budget are two excellent practices. But avoiding dental care will only cost you more in the end. Not only does it you at risk for nagging toothaches, it may force you to seek help from an emergency dentist in Springfield at the worst possible time. This in turn can cause you to miss work, putting a big gap in your income. Or, almost as bad, a toothache could strike when you’re enjoying a well-deserved vacation or day off, spoiling your fun.

Maybe you’re still worried about the cost of regular dentist visits. If that’s the case, then you may want to check with your local practice about options like private financing, public programs, or seeking treatment at a local dental school. Over time, the effort you invest in taking care of your teeth and gums will pay for itself many, many times over. It’s one of the smartest investments anyone can make.

About the Author

Dr. Kevin Schlee is a graduate of  University of Illinois at Chicago Dental School and a recipient of the he Horace Wells Award from the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology. He’s known for his patient-centered approach to dentistry and for his ability to explain technical concepts in simple terms. You can reach his office online or by calling (217) 546-3333.