I have heard hundreds of times over my years of practice from my patients, "Dr. Ramer, nothing hurts so there can't be anything wrong." Unfortunately for my patients, that type of thinking is their worst enemy. Consider this, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and even cancer may not hurt until it is too late and I am sure that we would all admit that they need to be treated even though they don't hurt. The same is true in the mouth. Many times decay (cavities), periodontal disease (loss of gum and bone around the teeth) and occlusion issues (a poor or worn bite) all go undiagnosed not because the dentist was not capable of findings the problems, but because the patient did not see the need to seek regular dental care because they decided that since nothing hurt, there couldn't be a problem.
One of the greatest investments a patient can make for their mouth is to make sure they invest in preventative dental care. Simply said, make sure you go to the dentist at least twice a year to have your teeth cleaned. Having harmful bacteria cleaned from your mouth professionally by a hygienist in conjunction with proper brushing and flossing at home can potentially eliminate having many problems in the mouth. It is the old expression....an ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure, so don't delay. If you are overdue, schedule your appointment today and don't wait until it hurts or you may be in store for more than you bargained for.
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