Your oral health is as important to maintain as the health of the rest of your body. If you haven't already made a trip to your local dentist's office this year, it's time to make an appointment. According to Colgate, visiting the dentist twice a year is a good rule of thumb. There are a few reasons why you should always schedule such visits on your calendar.

1. Get Professional Cleaning

Do you brush and floss your teeth twice a day as recommended? If so, you’re doing a good job of keeping your teeth clean. However, the professionals can do it even better when you go to your regular dental appointments. Your dentist has professional tools that can clean the crevices in your teeth and gums that you can't reach with a regular toothbrush or floss. They can get rid of any built-up plaque or tartar that may have formed since you last saw them. Getting rid of such bacteria can help prevent your teeth and gums from forming other problems.

2. Prevent Gum Disease

Gum disease is a common occurrence among American patients. It can come in two forms, known as periodontal disease or gingivitis. Gum disease is highly preventable with good oral hygiene and dentist's office visits. Without healthy gums, your teeth won't have a foundation to hold themselves in place. Gum disease can result in loose and possibly missing teeth down the line. Signs of gum disease include bleeding and swelling gums. The gums will often begin to pull away from the teeth when it's in the final stages of the disease.

3. Avoid Tooth Loss

You need teeth to chew and grind your food properly while eating. Of course, your teeth also make up your smile. So, if you're dealing with major tooth loss, it can affect your diet as it’ll be hard for you to eat the nutritious foods, such as the fruits and vegetables you need. When you have missing teeth, it can also affect the underlining jawbone as it can begin to disintegrate without teeth to support it. Loss of several teeth can even affect your facial structure. After all, your face will begin to look sunken in if there are no teeth to fill in your jaw.

4. Treat Minor Issues

Minor issues can always set in when it comes to your teeth or gums. For example, you may have a small crack or a tiny sign of decay that dentists can treat very quickly. Even if you're in the very early stages of gum disease, getting treatment early on can prevent it from advancing further. However, if you don't make those regular visits and maintain good hygiene, those minor issues can turn into much bigger and more expensive ones later on. For example, if you have decaying teeth that remain untreated, this can turn into a major issue needing a root canal to solve the problem.

5. Have a Winning Smile

Your smile is one of the first things people notice. Let your local dentist's office help you maintain it. From tooth whitening and preventing gum disease to filling in chips, your regular trips to the dentist can ensure you have a beautiful smile to show off. When you feel more comfortable smiling, it's easy to attract people to you and exude confidence. Such confidence can enhance both your personal and professional life in ways you may not always be aware of.

6. Learn Better Oral Hygiene

Last but not least, your dentist's office can always help you improve your regular oral hygiene. Even if you think you're brushing and flossing enough, your dentist can advise you on improvement. Maybe you're not using the right toothbrush. Maybe you're not flossing or brushing at the right angle or long enough. Whatever the problem is, they have the professional expertise to give you advice on how to improve your daily routine.

Making biannual trips to a dentist's office can go a long way to having a beautiful smile, healthy teeth, and good oral health. Make sure you have a dental professional you can trust. Start by visiting our team of experts at Bedminster Family & Cosmetic Dentistry today for a consultation. Our friendly staff is ready to give you the smile and oral health you deserve.