Don’t let a toothache to ruin your whole holiday.
It’s that time of the year again as we’re heading into December and winding down for the year. Whether you’re staying in or going away during the holidays, celebrations always mean catching up with family, friends, and colleagues, enjoying delicious food and drinks and having a great time. But, before the festive season arrives, you and your family should all have one thing on your mind: head to the dentist for a checkup.
If you’re like me, I’m sure you’ve got enough on your To-Do List already during this time of the year. It’s that time of the year when you’re trying to juggle many balls in the air and trying to do your Christmas shopping, organize Christmas parties and catch-ups, and finalize last-minute holiday travel plans. I mean who has time to see the dentist, right?
Well… toothache always seems to occur at the worst of times. I’m not sure why this is the case, but this always happens. Based on my 18 years of experience practicing dentistry, I have treated lots of patients during the holiday season who were affected by toothache when they least expected it. Let me give you an example. Just imagine your car running normally and smoothly every day and doesn’t give you much problem throughout the year, but one day when you decide to take the car on a road trip, all of a sudden it gives you all kinds of grieves and decides to die on you, when you least expected it to give up on you and when you depend on it the most! Have you had this experience before? I sure have and it definitely was not a pleasant experience. This is the reason why NRMA recommends its members to take their cars into a trusted mechanic for a thorough checkup before they go on a road trip to make sure everything is OK and to ensure they won’t be stranded on the road. By the same token, this is the reason why I advise people to get an end-of-year dental checkup. If everything checks out OK and nothing needs to be done, then good on you, at least you can have the peace of mind to eat, drink and be merry!
Reasons for End-of-Year Dental Checkup
Now, it only takes one “small” dental issue to cause a world of pain and lead you to miss out on all the fun during the holidays. I’m always a big believer that prevention is better than cure and trust me, lots of dental problems are preventable if only you detect them early. There really is no better time to catch up on your dental health than now! Here are the five reasons why you should always visit your dentist for an end-of-year checkup:
- All the yummy food and drinks mean potentially provoking cavities and tooth problems you weren’t even aware of before. A dental visit ahead of time will allow you to be proactive to fix and avoid any issues so the fun goes on without interruption.
- Holidays mean lots of photos, videos, selfies and lots of fond memories for the rest of your life. Don’t you want a clean, healthy, and pearly white smile to bring some extra sparkle to the events you attend?
- Last-minute dental emergencies during the holiday season can be costly! Like a lot of people, most dentists will be out on vacation and many dental surgeries will be closed during this period. If you put off your dental care and a problem ends up occurring, you’ll not only spend the holidays suffering through a toothache rather than enjoying your well-deserved break with your loved ones but you’ll also spend extra money and time. This is especially important if you’ll be traveling far away this holiday season. If you suffer from a toothache during your trip, chances are you probably wouldn’t even know where to find a dentist you can trust to come to your rescue. Worst yet if you’re traveling overseas and you are unable to communicate effectively with the local dentist (provided he or she is any good). So, my advice to you is not to take your chances!
- Children are very susceptible to cavities with all the sweet treats and lollies they eat, especially during the silly season. Now’s a better time than ever to take them to the dentist and have them “brush up” on regular dental hygiene practices!
And, if your children are a bit anxious about going to the dentist, just remind them that skipping over their dental care could put them on the naughty list this Christmas! Santa definitely wants them to have a healthy smile on Christmas morning!
Thinking Of Delaying?
Holidays are a time for rest, relaxation, and fun with your friends and family. Perhaps going to the dentist is the last thing on your priorities list right now, but I’d like to give you a friendly reminder that a 6-month checkup falling on the holiday season should be counted as a celebration of good oral health. Treat it like a holiday gift to yourself and your loved ones—you not only deserve it, you need it!
So, think twice before you postpone your dental visit until the New Year. Getting your checkup out of the way now will ensure smooth and happy passing of the holiday season without tooth troubles getting in your way.
At Chats Dental, we are all dentists with at least 17 years of clinical experience and are well-trained in the diagnostics of all kinds of dental issues. Appointments for the end of the year are booking out fast so to avoid disappointment, please give us a call now on (02) 8065-1080 and book your appointment with us for your end-of-year checkup. You can also book your appointment online at the time of your convenience 24/7 365 days a year.
Dr. Catherine Yang, BDS (USyd)
P.S. I didn’t forget about the 5th reason to get an end-of-year dental checkup. As the year winds to an end, your annual private health fund’s dental benefits are about to expire. You’ve paid for your private health insurance all year long, so why not use it before your benefits expire?