Dedicated to those who are wondering: Should I really go for a dental checkup?

Is it really better to go for regular dental checkups?

I spent over a decade of my life with my mind constantly wavering on this.

When I was young, my stance was generally to "only go to the dentist when something happens." Every time a severe cavity was found at the dentist and I had to endure painful treatment, I would think to myself, "I wish I had come sooner."

That said, I also felt like maybe the dentists just wanted to make money by telling me to come in for a checkup every three months, so my mind kept wavering.

With all that, before I knew it, I was nearing sixty. As for my current stance, well,

I go strictly for a dental checkup and cleaning every two months.

The conclusion I reached after decades of wavering is that "you should go for dental checkups."

The moment I felt this most strongly was about 15 years ago, when a cavity became deep and I needed root canal treatment. Root canal treatment takes time, and it was quite painful back then. Actually, I had root canal treatment recently too, and while it wasn't as painful—perhaps because technology has advanced—the fact that you have to visit the clinic multiple times remains the same. It is definitely better to treat cavities while they are still shallow before it comes to that. For early detection and early treatment of cavities, dental checkups are the way to go.

In the United States, where medical costs are high, treating a single cavity can cost around 100,000 yen, so everyone puts effort into checkups and prevention. In particular, it seems to be common sense to use floss when brushing teeth. This is because a toothbrush alone cannot remove dirt from between the teeth.

When you try flossing, your mouth feels very clean and refreshed. It is strange that the Japanese, who pride themselves on being the cleanest people in the world, are okay with not using floss. Along with dental checkups, I highly recommend using floss. Although, even as I say this so confidently, I only floss about once a week myself (everyone, you really should do it every day), but it also helps prevent bad breath, so I recommend using floss to freshen up your mouth before meeting people. After flossing, if you chew xylitol gum, your mouth will truly feel refreshed!

Most dentists will send you a postcard recommending a checkup about three months after your treatment ends. Even so, you might feel a bit reluctant to call and make an appointment, but take my word for it: you should proactively make that call.

Most people go to a hair salon or barbershop every few months and pay several thousand yen for hair care. If you think about dental care in the same way, your mindset might change. Hair is important, but dental health is even more important because it is directly linked to your lifespan. Going for a dental checkup every two to three months to get your teeth cared for is by no means a wasted expense.

As I get older, I realize the importance of teeth more and more.
That is why I now feel like I really want to give a push to those who are wondering whether or not to go for regular dental checkups.

#ForGoodTeeth