“Out of sight, out of mind,” the saying goes, and that can apply to your mouth and teeth.

According to the American Dental Association, 52 percent of adults visit a dentist every six months, and 15.4 percent claimed they visit a dentist once per year.

Dr. Dennis Keyes, who has his practice in Center Township, said proper education will help increase these numbers.

“Dental education in early childhood is important,” he said. “Almost 100 percent of all dental diseases are preventable.”

Dr. Paul Keelan of Keelan Dental in Butler said fear stemming from negative experiences or from overheard horror stories cause people to neglect seeing a dentist.

But without regular visits, people open themselves to the possibility of diseases such as gum disease, oral cancer and bad breath.

Keyes said when it comes to cleaning teeth, he often sees patients neglecting to floss. He said flossing limits bacteria colonization and gum infections.

He also sees teeth that are brushed, but not well enough.

“People say they might brush two to three times a day, but they may not do a good job,” he noted.

Keyes said this could be due to people brushing incorrectly or not using the right brush. He recommends a powered toothbrush.

Keyes said the entry-level model he recommends is $50 and ranges up to $150. He said inexpensive, generic powered brushes are typically battery powered and lack high frequencies of sonic vibration.

Keyes said there is also a powered flossing tool with interchangeable rubber tubes that makes it easier for patients who struggle with the conventional floss strings because of tight gaps between their teeth.

Dental restorations and repairs occupy a dentist’s time as much as routine cleanings, and although they are not always painless, technology has made these processes, quicker, stronger and more efficient.

Keyes said he sometimes wants to say that dental implants are better than regular teeth because of their strength and plaque resistance. He said crowns now use materials such as synthetic rubies and diamonds, improving strength, durability and appearance.

He also said whitening methods are nearly perfect in their use of peroxide to brighten smiles.

Keelan said one of the most useful innovations in the field has been the Velscope, which dentists use to detect oral cancer.

The light shines into a patient’s mouth illuminating healthy tissue in green, and any dark or non-glowing tissue indicates cancerous cells or tumor growth that needs further examination.

Keelan said the Velscope makes it easy for dentists to spot oral cancer early and treat it quickly. Oral cancer is fatal if untreated and is believed to be caused by drinking, smoking and oral sex.

Keelan said the cancer is virally similar to cervical cancer, and it can be transmitted sexually, despite an otherwise healthy lifestyle.

“It could happen to anyone,” he said.

Keelan said he has seen four cases in his practice; two of the patients died. His most recent patient survived, but surgery removed a large portion of that person’s jaw and tongue.

He also said the cancer forms at any age, but it is beginning to trend in younger patients.

Keelan said he recommends people to do their own oral examinations, even with regular dental visits. He said it is a fairly easy process, and there are countless instructions on how to do so on the Internet.

He said the cancer typically forms on the side of the tongue, floor of the mouth or back of the throat.

“If you catch it early, it’s less invasive and (requires) less surgery,” he said.

Keelan said oral cancer has the highest cure rate of any form of the disease as long as it is caught before it can spread. He said once it spreads, there is no telling what damage it will do.

Keelan said not all dentists screen for oral cancer, or if they do, they don’t always do so. He said dentists sometimes get caught up in the routine cleanups, tooth aches and root canals.

He said if oral cancer is not a concern of the dentist, then it should be for the patient, even those who have dentures.

“Insist that your dentist does an oral cancer screening,” he said.

Keelan said with all the advancements in the dental field there is little more to improve on, but patients would prefer less painful methods of numbing than shots. Less pain without needles may even entice the previously fearful patients.

Keyes said to encourage more people to visit regularly, patients need to be taught good oral care habits. He said once a practice becomes a habit, it feels awful not to brush or not to visit a dentist.