Many American adults go for more than a year without visiting the dentist. According to a survey conducted by the American Dental Association, only 37% of adults had an appointment last year. Regular dental visits can have huge benefits for both your physical health and mental health and help you detect problems before they start. Here are some reasons you should make that dental appointment you've been putting off.

Discover Orthodontic Problems

If you can feel your teeth overlapping each other in your mouth, that's a sign of an orthodontic condition. If you can, getting that condition detected by your dental health team can be the first step to a straighter, more confident, and brighter smile. An orthodontist is a specialized dental professional who handles problems with tooth alignment. If you invest the time and effort needed to create a beautiful smile, you'll enjoy the results for many years to come.

Stop Dry Mouth or Bad Breath

If you're taking medication because you've entered the middle and later years of adulthood, chances are good at least one of your medications is causing dry mouth or bad breath. A dry mouth can even cause tooth loss in some cases, and bad breath can take a major social toll on you. If you take medications and you're drinking more water because your mouth feels dry all the time or you're noticing that your breath smells off, take it seriously and seek assistance.

Safeguard Your Family's Oral Health

By scheduling visits for cleanings, you're investing not just in your oral health, but in that of your family members as well. Making seeing the dentist a priority is a great way to make sure that your whole family's oral health is getting looked after. This will set a good example and encourage your family to form good oral hygiene habits.

Protect Your Teeth in the Future

By taking care of plaque build-up when it's minimal, you can prevent future oral health issues from ever happening. A trip to the dentist can stop a little plaque today from becoming a nest of cavities a while from now.

You can do great things for your oral health when you visit the dentist's office regularly and get your teeth cleaned. Your dentist and hygienist will help you plan to keep your teeth in the best possible shape. Call or visit Dr. John Stivers online today to set up your next dental cleaning visit.