Whether you live in America or Europe, or are African or Chinese, dentist visits are critical to the health of everyone's teeth and gums. Bacteria thrive in the human mouth due to its constant moistness, and failing to visit a dentist regularly can be detrimental not only to your pearly whites, but also to your overall well being.
The following list describes some of the most important reasons to visit a dentist at least twice a year:
· Prevent gum disease: Gum disease affects over 90% of all adults in the United States, and a staggering 25% of people over the age of 65 in the country will lose every single tooth in their mouth! A trip to the dentist will give you a professional cleaning and allow the doctor to observe problems before it's too late.
· Eliminate decay: Daily brushing and the use of mouthwash sometimes isn't enough to remove harsh decay that causes gum disease. Dentists have the uncanny ability to recognize seemingly unrecognizable tooth decay.
· Do away with bad breath: Halitosis is a common oral disease that causes chronic bad breath. Usually caused by bacteria, halitosis can be diagnosed and medicated by dentists.
· Prevent periodontal disease: Any disease that affects oral tissues (most notably, the gums) can be considered a periodontal disease. The most common form of gum disease is gingivitis.
· Spotting oral cancer: Although it is not usually thought of as one of the more dangerous cancers, oral cancer affects over 25,000 people each year. Tongue cancer, pharynx cancer, and mouth cancer are all devastating disease that have some of the highest mortality rates when compared to other forms of cancer.
From the big cities in North America populated by Americans to the open Asian vastness that is home to the Chinese, dentist visits will ensure that everyone around the world has strong teeth and healthy gums.
De Anza Dental Center is home to Dr. Po-Jen Lin, a Chinese dentist who speaks Mandarin and many other Chinese dialects. The author of this article is Derek Schimmel, a freelance writer.