Yearly check-ups are vital for your long-term health and well-being. Many people think going to the doctor for their annual check-up is good enough, but you also need to visit the optometrist and dentist! Your dental and vision appointments are also vital for your health. Here are a few reasons why you shouldn’t skimp out on your dental and vision:   

Eye Care  

Even if you don’t think your vision has changed, you should still go to the optometrist for the overall health of your eyes—many eye diseases go unnoticed until it’s too late! Sometimes your eyes can show signs of illness before medical doctors can diagnose them. Your eyes can be the window to certain health issues you may have because it’s easy to see the blood vessels and nerves in your eyes.   

Your vision can change slowly over time without you even realizing it. If you have young children, they may have vision issues that they aren’t even aware of. Many children will think their poor eyesight is normal because they don’t know better. Your kids’ grades in school may suffer as a result of not being able to see correctly!   

Visiting the optometrist is more than just getting a pair of glasses or contacts to correct your vision. They have tests and screens for eye diseases and can often see symptoms of other medical problems in the eyes. Yearly vision check-ups can help prevent vision problems from evolving into chronic conditions like retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma. Glaucoma is a silent disease that many won’t know about until they start losing their vision. Visiting your optometrist yearly is a necessary preventative measure if you want to keep your eyesight.   

Did you know you can develop melanoma (a serious type of cancer) in your eyes? Melanoma can develop in the choroid, which is the layer behind the retina. Your optometrist will be able to see any tumors or unnatural occurrences in your eyes during your screening. They’ll also look for other diseases like macular degeneration or retinopathy, which can both cause loss of vision.   

Dental Care  

It is highly recommended to visit the dentist once or twice a year. You may follow a good dental hygiene routine, but visiting the dentist is still one of the best ways to prevent oral health problems. Many people won’t notice they have a cavity until it’s already too late to reverse it.   

Cavities happen when the enamel of the teeth is eaten away by bacteria. Undigested food can build up on the surface of your teeth and gums forming a substance called plaque. When you have a buildup of plaque on the teeth, you are more likely to have a cavity. Brushing and flossing your teeth can prevent plaque buildup, but sometimes when plaque hardens too much it becomes a job for the dentist. If you don’t go to the dentist to have your teeth cleaned, your cavity can worsen until it gets to the point of an abscess.   

If your cavity gets to the point of an abscess, you will need to go on antibiotics. An abscess is a severe infection you shouldn’t scoff at—especially if it’s in your mouth. If the infection were to get into your blood it could become fatal.   

A healthy mouth is important! Visit your dentist at least once a year to keep your mouth in tip-top shape.   

Know Your Insurance  

You can usually bundle your vision and dental insurance with your health insurance. Contact your local insurance agent to discuss your insurance needs today!