Routine dental care is something you need through all stages of life. Having healthy teeth allows you to eat a varied diet and healthy teeth keep you from having dental infections that could spread throughout your body. Here's a look at some of the dental services you need and why they are so important.

Oral Examinations

When you have your routine dental visits, the dentist examines the inside of your mouth for lesions and other signs of problems. Your dentist can pick up on early signs of oral cancer and other medical problems that may need treatment by your doctor. Regular visits ensure problems, such as cancer, are caught early so treatment can begin while the condition is still easy to treat.

Dental Cleaning

Regular dental cleanings keep plaque and tartar off of your teeth. This is important because they can irritate your gums and cause your gums to become inflamed. This is the first stage of gum disease. Gum disease can become a serious problem that leads to the loss of teeth, but it can often be avoided through regular dental cleanings and caring for your teeth properly at home.

X-Rays

Your dentist will probably order x-rays for you once a year or when you need a specific treatment. An x-ray can tell your dentist a lot about the condition of your teeth. A small cavity or a cavity that's between the teeth will show up on an x-ray when your dentist may not notice it during a visual exam. X-rays can also monitor for bone loss or show the amount of bone mass you have when you're planning to get an implant.

Fillings

If you take good care of your teeth, you may never need to have a filling. However, it's common to have a few fillings, and if your dentist can catch cavities early, then you may need only small fillings and you'll probably be able to avoid more extensive work such as a root canal. When cavities get big, you might even need a crown if there isn't enough enamel to hold a filling. By getting fillings when cavities are small, you can avoid the need for more expensive treatments.

Education

A dentist can help you maintain good oral health over the years by educating you on things like how to care for your teeth, the right dental products to use, and the foods to avoid that are bad for your teeth. You may even need advice from your dentist for dealing with things like bad breath or dry mouth that can occur at different stages of life.

Although it may seem like an inconvenience to go to the dentist a couple of times each year, your effort will pay off in healthier teeth and gums so you reduce the need for expensive dental treatments or tooth loss as you age. Contact a clinic, like Cobbe Dental & Orthodontics, for more help.