5 Types of People Who Can't Afford to Miss Dental Checkups

Dentists advise everyone to have a checkup twice a year to ensure their teeth and gums stay healthy, but many people don't stick to this schedule. For certain groups of people, avoiding dental checkups could have serious consequences. If you fall into one of these categories, you must make dental checkups a priority in your life.

1. Pregnant Women

When you're expecting a new baby, it's easy to forget about your dental health. After all, you have a lot of preparation to do to ensure everything is ready for the new arrival. However, neglecting your dental health during this exciting time could have serious consequences. Pregnancy hormones can make you vulnerable to gum disease, so it's important to see your dentist for a checkup. Let your dentist know you are pregnant so he or she can use materials and techniques that are known to be safe during pregnancy to treat any oral health problems.

2. Diabetics

Dental checkups are particularly important for people who are living with diabetes. Uncontrolled blood sugar can lead to serious oral health problems, such as gum disease. In addition, many people with diabetes also suffer from dry mouth, where a lack of saliva creates a favorable environment for bacteria to grow. Don't let these bacteria cause cavities or attack your gums; see your dentist at least once every six months to keep your mouth healthy.

3. Smokers

If you smoke, your risk of developing gum disease could be as much as six times higher than that faced by the average non-smoker. If you allow gum disease to progress without treatment, it could lead to you losing some teeth. Smoking also raises the risk of oral cancer. Dentists are trained to spot the early signs of this deadly disease, so a dental checkup could literally save your life.

4. Immuno-Compromised People

When your immune system doesn't work very well, your risk of developing an oral infection is high. Keeping your mouth clean through regular flossing and brushing is a good way to keep infection at bay, but you should also see your dental regularly for checkups and professional teeth cleaning sessions.

5. People With Gum Disease

If you have gum disease, or you have had it before, it's important for you to have regular dental checkups to keep the disease in check. Letting gum disease progress without treatment can lead to it spreading deep into the jawbone, which can have serious consequences for your health.