Are you wondering whether you need to visit a dentist? Achieving optimal oral health depends on a variety of factors, including proper oral care practices. Some oral health issues may be more severe, but others are rather minimal. Even without blatant issues, it's a good idea to visit a dentist regularly because they can assist with maintaining your oral health. Here are four key reasons to visit one!

1. TMJ and Headache Treatment

The TMJ (temporomandibular joint) is the joint on either side of your head that allows you to open and close your jaw. There are several signs that indicate you may have a TMJ disorder. These include uncomfortable chewing, an increased frequency of headaches, and frequently biting your cheek, tongue, or lip by accident. When you visit an orthodontist, they can use a diagnostic tool to narrow down the cause of your facial pain or bite issues before resolving the problem in just a few visits.

2. Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment

Snoring is actually rather common but, depending on how much it occurs, it can affect the quality and duration of your sleep. It is actually a typical sign of sleep apnea, which is a disorder that happens when you're not able to breathe properly while sleeping. Other potential signs of sleep apnea include grinding your teeth while sleeping (bruxism), waking up with a headache, waking up feeling tired, struggling to concentrate, and waking during the night gasping or coughing. If you notice any of these signs, you should consider visiting a dentist or orthodontist for treatment options.

3. Cosmetic Dentistry

The main focus of this dental field is to improve the appearance of teeth. If some of your teeth are cracked, chipped, discolored, irregularly shaped, or missing, then cosmetic treatments can help restore your smile. In addition to those services, there are even more appearance issues you can expect to resolve with assistance from cosmetic orthodontists.

4. General Dentistry

Did you know that, according to DentalPlans.com, 80% of all dentists practice general dentistry? Consequently, it won't be too difficult to find a general dentist if you're looking to address bleeding gums, loose teeth, severe pain, or other immediate care concerns. You can also seek treatments like dental crowns, dentures, tooth extractions, general preventative care, and more from a general dentist.

Hopefully, some of these reasons have resonated with you. If you're experiencing oral pain or you have concerns you may want to address, then it's important to visit an oral professional as soon as possible. Contact Sylvan S. Stern, DDS PLC today to request an appointment.