If your dentist diagnoses a dental health problem or a developing problem, it is of utmost importance that you have it addressed as soon as you can, so that it doesn’t worsen.
Unfortunately, dental health problems don’t simply go away or heal themselves without some form of treatment.
There are some problems that you may be able to “treat” at home to some degree; for instance, mild periodontal disease (gingivitis) can often be dealt with by simply improving your oral hygiene routine at home. In some cases, issues like bad breath or stained teeth can be improved by these methods as well.
For the most part however (and even when it comes to the above dental issues), most dental health problems require professional dental care and specific treatments that can only be provided by a dentist or hygienist.
Gingivitis can easily turn into full blown gum disease in spite of your best efforts at home care. In these cases, professional dental cleanings, scaling and root planing and even periodontal surgery may be necessary to save your teeth.
Discoloured teeth may require professional bleaching, which should always be monitored by a dentist, and bad breath may be the result of underlying health issues that more thorough brushing and flossing can’t solve.
Things like cavities, teeth misalignment problems, cracked or chipped teeth, and more advanced gum disease all require professional intervention. They certainly won’t improve if ignored, and in most cases will grow worse, and cause other oral health issues as well.
In short, if your dentist has diagnosed a problem or a developing problem in your mouth, following up and having the issue addressed, and monitored thereafter, is essential for your long term oral health.
The best time to make your follow-up appointment is immediately after your appointment, while you’re still at our office, but you can call or email us any time to book.
