Many of us treat going to the dentist like it’s a chore we know we should take care of sooner rather than later. We understand the problems that can arise if we put a visit off for too long, but it never seems to make it to the top of our to-do list until it gets really painful.

Besides the emergency dental procedures that might not have even been necessary had we gone for our regular checkups, there are several reasons why going to your local dentist will do you a whole lot of good. Here are three biting reasons you should find a local dentist and schedule an appointment right now.

1.) Change the look of your smile

This isn’t England in the 19th century. Bad teeth are not the norm. In twenty-first century America, the look of your teeth can say a whole lot about who you are. Actually, that is not true at all. What is true is that people have placed a great deal of importance on the whitest smile possible. Almost one-third of Americans say that they are concerned about the look of their teeth, while three-quarter of people think a bad smile can actually hurt their careers. For whatever reason, a bright smile exudes confidence and strength and that is what your smile can show about who you actually are.

2.) Have teeth removed

Sometimes, you just have to have a tooth pulled. There might not be any reason other than your tooth has just given up the ghost. Your local dentist is a much better option for removing a bum tooth than tying it to a string and then tying the other end of the string to the doorknob. Think of Tom Hanks in the movie Castaway. No one wants to have to use the pick end of an ice skate to take out that troubling tooth. There are roughly 5 million people who need their wisdom teeth removed every year. Hit up your local dentist. You will thank yourself later.

3.) Check for disease

Every hour of every single day in the United States, one person dies from oral cancer. Even the best dentist and oral surgeons will have difficulty helping you if you go into their office too late. Keep tabs on your oral health while everything is good. Your teeth serve you every day. Maybe it’s time to serve them back.