Putting off a dentist’s appointment isn’t exactly hard. You know you need to go, but always manage to put it at the bottom of your to-do list. As time passes, life becomes busy, and you do not perceive a dental visit as ‘urgent’ unless you are in pain. But keeping away from the dentist for so long may not benefit you in just a few little tooth troubles.
Even when your mouth looks good, and you are brushing daily, problems may be sneaking up on your mouth. For this reason, dentists recommend regular checkups and cleanings once or twice a year. So what happens if you don’t go to the dentist? We will now explore what can go awry if you skip dental visits.
What Happens If You Don’t Go for 1 Year?
If it has been a year since you last saw your dentist, things are going to be worse in your mouth. If you brush and floss every day, you may still have plaque building up in spots you can’t get at without professional cleaning. That plaque can harden into tartar and can only be removed by a dentist or dental hygienist.
At this stage, small cavities may have formed. If untreated cavities are not caught early, they can grow deeper. When brushing, you may also notice the first signs of gum disease, such as redness, swelling, or bleeding.
This often happens if you eat too much sugary food or don’t brush your teeth well enough. While you may not feel anything yet, damage can start under the surface. That’s why even one missed year can set you up for trouble.
What Happens If You Don’t Go for 2 Years?
By the two-year mark, those small problems have probably become bigger. Tiny cavities that have begun to form can now be large enough to result in sensitivity or pain. If you notice your teeth hurting when you eat something sweet, hot, or cold, you may have Bruxism. It’s a sign the decay has moved deeper toward your nerve due to oral health neglect.
By then, a simple filling may not help. You will likely need a root canal or crown, both more expensive and painful than just a regular filling. When gum disease risks occur early and have not been treated, it can start to affect bones under your gums, resulting in serious gum infections, and your teeth will loosen over time. The longer you wait, the harder and more costly it is to treat.
What Happens If You Don’t Go for 5 Years?
It has been five years since you last saw a dentist, and that is so long that serious dental problems may have developed. That small cavity you neglected could expand, causing the tooth to be unable to be saved. This may cause it to have to be pulled out completely.
Periodontal disease could also have progressed from mild to severe. This causes your gums to recede and the teeth to feel loose or out of place. You may also frequently have bad breath, bleeding gums, and soreness between the inside of your teeth and gums. This is painful, and the treatments can be complicated and expensive.
Deep cleanings, gum surgery, and even dental implants are necessary to prevent tooth loss and replace lost teeth. These problems impact not only your smile but also the way you chew and talk. This is a lot to deal with, and it could have been avoided with regular care.
What Happens If You Don’t Go for 10 Years?
If you have not visited your dentist in ten years, the problem that you now have is more serious and widespread. You might be dealing with multiple cavities, dental caries, and advanced gum disease. Things like eating or smiling may even be painful or uncomfortable.
However, what’s even worse is how ill oral health can affect the rest of your body. Mouth infections have a longer reach than just your mouth; they spread through your bloodstream to other areas of your body and can cause issues. Gum disease is known to be linked to heart issues such as heart disease and stroke. So, avoiding preventive dentistry is actually putting your health at risk in itself.
In addition, the oral bacteria from untreated dental problems begin to work against your body’s ability to fight infections over time. In other words, the longer you wait, the more you expose your full body health, not just your smile.
How to Keep Your Teeth Healthy Between Visits?
- It is always best to make regular dentist visits. However, if you cannot make an appointment or miss one, there are things you can do at home to help protect your teeth and gums.
- Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day. Don’t forget to floss once a day. This helps remove plaque from areas that your toothbrush cannot reach.
- Reduce the sugar you eat and drink as much as you can. This feeds the bacteria in your mouth, which can lead to tooth enamel erosion and other diseases. A good way to wash food and bacteria away is to drink water, such as fluoridated or regular tap water, after meals.
Note: Even the most diligent brushing doesn’t eliminate everything. Thus, a visit to the dentist is necessary. Dentists use a special set of tools to clean your teeth, check for any problems before they get out of hand, and take them to the next level of treatment before your condition worsens.
Why Choose Tampa Dental Wellness?
Tampa Dental Wellness offers services like teeth whitening with Opalescence Boost to enhance your smile and pain-free tooth extractions for a more comfortable treatment. We know the importance of dental checkups and provide care that focuses on a soothing patient experience. We aim to redefine dentistry by prioritizing patient comfort and effective treatments, such as addressing missing teeth.
Final Thoughts!
At first, putting off going to the dentist may not seem like a big deal. Small problems, however, can become painful and costly over time. The other side of the coin for missing your appointment is that your health can pay a price, too.
So, have checkups and cleanings otherwise, you will be affected by what happens if you don’t go to the dentist. Now, it isn’t too late to start making your oral health a priority once more. Now is the perfect time to make that dental visit. It will thank your teeth, your body, and your smile.
