As humans, we are pretty good at convincing ourselves to seek pleasure and avoid pain. However, what if the reasons we are employing to inform our actions are actually leading us astray?
For one reason or another, visiting the dentist is an activity that doesn’t make the pleasure category. Though regular dental visits are the surest way to prevent and treat oral health issues, just 35 percent of working-age American adults visit the dentist annually.
Here are the top 6 reasons why people don’t find their dentists–and 6 reasons why making that twice-annual visit to a dentist’s office can actually help you feel great each day.
COST
Across most age classes, the price is the biggest reason why folks decide not to visit their dentist. Though budgeting to have your teeth cleaned may sound less exciting than saving for your next vacation, investing in your oral health pays off in more ways than you.
While poor oral health can promote tooth loss, health issues, low self-esteem, and the need for more extensive and expensive dental work, great oral health can maintain your teeth, improve your overall health, increase self-confidence, and need minimal preventative maintenance.
REASON TO SEE YOUR DENTIST: INVESTMENT
Purchasing your oral health today can help you protect some of your most valuable assets: your teeth, health, long-term finances, and sense of wellbeing.
THE BELIEF THAT ORAL HEALTH IS ALREADY GOOD
If you routinely brush, floss, and are symptom-free, it’s easy to feel that your oral health is already in good standing and that visiting the dentist is more of a nuisance than a necessity.
Even though your proactivity is definitely praiseworthy and value continuing, your oral hygiene efforts can’t remove tartar or replicate the resources and techniques of a dental team.
Tartar, also referred to as dental calculus, is a rough, crusty deposit that forms when plaque is left on your teeth. In addition to being unattractive and vulnerable to stains, tartar makes it difficult to remove plaque from the teeth, heightening your risk for cavities, gum disturbance, and gum disease.
Alongside the unmatched ability to get rid of sneaky tartar from your teeth, your dental team can discover dental issues early. Through regular exams and cleanings, your dentist can locate and treat tooth decay, fractures, and signs of gum disease in their earliest stages–before they advance into big-problem dentistry.
REASON TO SEE YOUR DENTIST: SELF-CARE
Like getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, and drinking enough water, visiting the dentist twice a year is an irreplaceable form of self-care that can enhance your health and daily quality of living.
TIME
Time is truly one of our most valued commodities. In fact, research has demonstrated that spending money on something that saves us time can generate more happiness than splurging on something material.
As we attempt to conserve our valuable moment, skipping out on the dentist can seem to be an easy way to keep some of those moments for work or play.
Similar to all other justifications for avoiding the dentist, there’s a catch: while bowing out of regular preventative care can save you some time, at the start, it can cost you more time (and money) at the end.
Dental issues, such as tooth decay and gum disease, can cause irreversible damage that can only be remedied with restorative treatments. The more a dental issue is left untreated, the longer you’ll spend in the dentist’s chair to fix the damage.
REASON TO SEE YOUR DENTIST: LONG-TERM
Time-saverIn the huge picture, choosing to visit the dentist now can assist you to protect your precious time and avoid unnecessary discomfort and stress.
ANXIETY
If dental anxiety or fear has stopped you from visiting your dentist, you’re not alone. An estimated 80 percent of Americans have some degree of dental anxiety, with 9 percent to 15 percent avoiding the dentist completely due to anxiety or fear.
Unfortunately, because people who have dental anxiety have a propensity to cancel or avoid dental visits, they are more likely to experience tooth decay, tooth loss, and a decline in physical, mental, and social health–all of which can cause more anxiety. The fantastic news? Because dental anxiety is so prevalent, your dentist is well equipped to assist you throughout it.
REASON TO SEE YOUR DENTIST: SELF-EMPOWERMENT
You can take control of your oral health and dental experience by talking to your dentist about your own worries and fears. Whenever your dental team understands what your concerns are, they will partner with you to develop a personalized plan that makes it feasible to quell anxiety, increase comfort, and revel in the positive physical and mental benefits of good oral health.
SHAME
If your oral health isn’t in the best shape, it can feel especially intimidating to allow someone examine your mouth and teeth. You may feel as though your dentist or hygienist will judge you for ignoring your oral health or for having issues with your teeth.
A vicious cycle, the longer the shame prevents you from seeing your dentist, the greater your oral health issues will likely be. So how can you break the habit of feeling ashamed about your teeth? Find a dentist who is guided by compassion and makes you feel safe. A good dentist won’t ever judge you, no matter what condition your oral health may be in.
REASON TO SEE YOUR DENTIST: RESTORE YOUR SELF-ESTEEM
Receiving the oral health care you need can help you break free from feeling ashamed about your mouth and teeth and restore your sense of personal value and self-confidence.
MISSING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN ORAL HEALTH AND OVERALL HEALTH
In addition to being connected to our mental health (see #4 and #5), your oral health immediately influences the health of your entire body.
Poor oral health has been associated with serious health issues, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, premature birth, and low birth weight. Certain medical conditions, such as disorders of the immune and metabolic processes, can also make you more likely to undergo oral health issues.