Don’t brush off your check-up appointment

Everyone who has children in school (right on up to those with students at university) has pretty much settled into the school year by now. Hopefully, you’ve scheduled you and your family’s dental appointments – the school year calendar is of prime importance in my household!

Unfortunately, I know that it’s all too easy to brush off (no pun intended) one of those check-up appointments. Life is busy and things are happening all the time and, worse yet, some folks consider that kind of appointment to be flexible as to when it happens.

However, I tell you that it is of critical importance to keep these examination appointments and have two each year (preferably six months apart). The professional cleaning helps maintain periodontal health and the x-ray images we take once each year helps me see if something bad is in the future for your teeth. I just cannot stress enough how important it is not to think of this as an appointment that you can miss without consequence.

Here’s an idea:

Lots of people are fanatical about keeping and following a “to-do” list on their phone (or, in some cases, even household appliances now display those ubiquitous lists). Become a list person! The, follow that list!

I recommend that patients should have two cleanings and exams each year (with x-rays being taken at one of them) and could have more recommended by their dentist if there is serious periodontal disease at the beginning.

At the far end of the spectrum, there are those who do not take time to keep appointments and go years without a professional cleaning. This is a big, big mistake.

A good analogy for this is as if a person doesn’t do proper maintenance on his or her vehicle. Hey, just think of it as changing the oil in your car. You can put it off and put it off, but one day a small problem will appear that will soon turn into a big problem … or the big problem will land all at once and then you’ll have to an engine overhaul at the very least.

The last point I’ll make today is that good oral health will help you maintain good financial health. The cost of keeping your mouth healthy is much, much less than extensive oral treatments once problems build and build until it takes more than a filling or two to fix what’s wrong.

If you don’t have a dentist, consider calling the full-service Naples Implant & Laser Dental Center (239-261-8200). We can help you take care of your mouth.