According to Healthline, you should go for a dental check-up every six months. This is crucial for the prevention of cavities and other dental problems. But what happens if you stop going to the dentist altogether? The first thing that will happen is that your oral health will start deteriorating. Here are other problems you may end up facing.

Plaque Buildup

Brushing and flossing your teeth is great, but you need to go for deeper cleaning at the dentist’s office. There are some hard-to-reach places that your floss and toothbrush will not be able to clean. As such, if you stop going to the dentist, tartar will start building up in your mouth. If it keeps accumulating, it will lead to inflammation of the gums, also known as gingivitis. These are the early stages of periodontal disease, which is an irreversible condition that leads to the loss of teeth.

Tooth Decay

When plaque keeps building up in your mouth, it will start causing tooth decay. This problem can lead to a host of other dental problems like bad breath and tooth loss. You can also end up with cavities. Tooth loss is usually the result of advanced gum disease or tooth decay. These are very unpleasant oral health problems that can be prevented by regular visits to the dentist.

Gum Disease

Most people totally forget about their gums, especially if they are not causing any form of discomfort. One of the things that can affect you if you don’t go to the dentist is gum disease. As mentioned before, it starts off as inflammation of the gums. You will notice reddened and swollen gums that feel fine. If you don’t receive treatment, gingivitis will turn into more complicated issues, one of which is periodontal disease. Patients with advanced cases of this disease will start experiencing tooth loss and jaw bone loss. Once the disease gets to this point, it cannot be reversed. Fortunately, if it’s caught in its early stages, it can be treated.

These are some of the problems that can develop if you neglect to go to the dentist. Apart from the issues listed above, you can also end up with bad breath. All the plaque, bacteria, and tartar that collects in your mouth will start causing bad breath. Periodontal disease can cause bad breath as well. All these are things you can catch if you don’t see your dentist regularly. If you don’t remember the last time you went for a dental checkup, give us a call at Mountain View Dentistry today.