How often should you go to the dentist?
Of all the Americans, more than one hundred million do not have appointments with their dentist fishers in every year, despite the fact that people should see their dentist at least once a year. Whether you got a postcard in the mail from your dentist to make your 6 month checkup appointment three months ago, or you do not even know who your dentist is, you may think you do not need to visit the dentist if your mouth is painful or bleeding.
As a result of an advertisement for a toothpaste, people believe they should see their dentist twice a year. There is not much research that supports this suggestion and it may not be the best option for everyone. You may need to see the dentist more often, but know that regular dental exams keep you healthy and minimizes emergency appointments.
How Often Should You Visit the Dentist?
As a general rule of thumb, visiting the dentist every six months is good for many people, it is not ideal for everyone. Your unique mouth has its own needs so your frequency of dental appointments can depend on your oral hygiene practices and any medical conditions.
Some people may only need to go to the dentist once a year, whereas others may need to go four times a year to keep their mouth healthy. Take time to as the dentist about your oral health and if it would improve with a different appointment frequency than your current one.
Who Should Go to the Dentist More Often?
The people who need more frequent dental appointments are people with high risk of dental diseases or are at higher risk for other health conditions. The main groups of the high risk people are:
- People with diabetes
- People who are pregnant
- People who smoke
- People with gum disease
- People with compromised immune systems
- People who are prone to cavities or a buildup of plaque and tartar in their mouth.
Why is Going to the Dentist Important?
While you may have a rigorous and regular at home dental care routine, you still need to see the dentist for exams. Your brushing and flossing are not enough to keep your mouth free from all problems. Cavities and gum disease are not always obvious or clearly visible so a trained professional is the only way to keep problems from getting worse. And when it comes to cancer people already know that it is important to catch it as early as possible. Oral cancer is most often diagnosed by dentists first before other medical professionals.
When you have a disease or condition that can be prevented or treated easily before it progresses, only appointments with dental professionals will give you the best results. If treated early on, the dentist may be able to save you time, money and pain before the problem becomes more complicated.
What Can You Do to Keep Dentist Appointments to a Minimum?
If you want to keep yourself out of the dentist’s chair as much as possible, then you need to continue to brush and floss twice a day, use an oral rinse and maintain a healthy, balanced diet.