As adults, many people can begin to think that their cavity-prone years are behind them. This line of thinking is dangerous to oral health because it can mean that regular dental visits and cleanings begin to be skipped. Not only is this thinking detrimental to oral health, but it is incorrect as well. As a person ages, they become at risk for many new dental problems, which were not a threat during adolescence. Dr. Michael Stern and his team at Smile Brighter in Willoughby Hills, OH welcome you into their office to continue your journey to optimum oral health, which can be achieved through consistent preventive care.
Dental care for adults is incredibly crucial to avoid many types of dental problems. Let’s discuss a few.
Periodontal Disease
From the age of 35 onwards, dental patients begin losing more teeth from periodontal disease than they do because of tooth decay. A combination of lax home habits including brushing and flossing while skipping regular dental cleanings, can lead to significant plaque and tartar buildup on your teeth. This buildup of plaque and tartar can cause damage to your jawbone and supporting structures resulting in loosened teeth, periodontal disease, and tooth loss. The great news is that periodontal disease is entirely preventable in most cases.
Oral Cancers
Studies show that males over 40 years of age are at the greatest risk for oral cancer. The American Cancer Society has released numbers specifying that around 36,000 Americans will suffer from oral cancer (cancer of the mouth, tongue, or throat) with nearly 7,000 of those cases proving fatal. One factor that weighs heavily into these numbers is the use of tobacco products and alcohol. Making sure you are going in for your preventive checkups gives you a huge advantage over adults who do not because many oral cancers are entirely detectable by your dentist.
These are just a couple of reasons why keeping up with preventive dental care is critical to every adult. It does not matter if you have not been to a dentist in years or have kept up with your oral health. Dr. Michael Stern would love to see you and provide you with the professional dental care that we all need. For an appointment, please call (440) 210-0999.
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