A question that many patients struggle to answer is how often they should go to the dentist. It could be because they don’t visit the dentist very often. Maybe they’ve been recommended to visit very frequently due to poor oral health, or their oral health is strong enough to only visit the dentist when their time is due.
First things first, a visit to the dentist should always be a priority when your time is due. A child’s visit to the dentist is just as important. Although, understanding how often to visit is still a question that confuses patients.
So, how often should you go to the dentist? For a regular check-up, many dentists recommend a visit to the dentist every six months. Although you’ll have other dentists who recommend more frequent visits, this is dependent on the state of your oral health and whether dental concerns indicate the need for more regular visits for restorative or preventative treatments. The six-month rule isn’t exactly the best option for everyone, and the frequency of visits is dependent on the needs of a patient.
Why Are Regular Check-Ups So Important?
If your oral health isn’t as strong as it should be, this will show on your teeth and gums, and it is a clear indication that you do not look after them. This is also likely to attribute to not attending regular check-ups.
Regardless of frequency, regular check-ups are very important because it gives the dentist a chance to detect any abnormal signs for tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer. Before the expansion of modern dentistry, visits to dentists were only required to perform the treatment to fix dental concerns. Today, modern dentistry has recognized the importance of check-ups to avoid any dental concerns becoming progressively worse.
This has paved the way for treatment plans to be administered should the dentist find an issue. Most importantly, you will become more educated about oral health, in general, to understand how you can look after your teeth at home. Doing so can sufficiently limiting the need to pay for extensive treatments.
Cleaning your teeth and gums is part of your check-up appointment. The dentist would perform scale and polish treatment should your teeth show signs of dental plaque build-up, a substance full of bacteria that coat around your teeth. The dentist will then give recommendations on how to maintain strong oral health at home to avoid more frequent visits to the dentist.
Who Should Go To The Dentist More Often?
Some patients have required a visit to the dentist more than twice a year, particularly if their oral health is at risk from disease and other health conditions. Those with a weak immune response, gum disease, diabetes, and a poor oral routine owing to dental plaque build-up are required to visit the dentist more often than six months at a time.
How Often Should Adults Visit The Dentist?
Let’s aim to understand this further.
According to research, there is no sufficient evidence behind the six-month rule. The six-month rule was a recommended timeframe for dentists to detect possible oral health problems and at an early stage. Again, there is no evidence behind this but is rather a recommendation stemming from dentists’ professional experiences.
Of course, oral health concerns can occur at any time, making the six-month rule seem more flawed. Therefore, the frequency of dental check-ups depends on individual oral health needs per adult.
When Should Children Visit The Dentist?
The frequency of visiting the dentist for children is considered similar for adults. According to research, adults should take their children for their first check-up before they reach two years old. Children are likely to experience dental anxiety, especially with their first few visits. Therefore, it is recommended that they’re accompanied by an adult to make them feel more comfortable.
How Often Should You Go To The Dentist For A Cleaning?
There isn’t a definitive answer for how often you should go to the dentist, but as outlined above, the dentist is best placed to schedule a frequency of visits depending on individual oral health needs.
Here are some reasons as to why you should visit the dentist regularly.
- Brighter Smiles – Visiting the dentist for a cleaning ensures swift removal of dental plaque build-up that coats around your teeth, hiding your smile and may potentially cause decay and gum disease. The procedure to remove plaque is simple and swift, making way for a brighter smile.
- Oral Advice and Treatments – When suffering from tooth sensitivity, it can be a frightening experience should you not know the reasons for it and how to reduce the pain. You should always book a visit to the dentist should you experience any sensitivity, but the added benefit to this is seeking professional advice on how to make sure the sensitivity doesn’t occur in the future.
- Role Model For Children – Children’s tooth development is really important for a happy and healthy mouth as they grow up into an adult. As soon as their first tooth begins to appear, book them in for a check-up. This is important so that the dentist can check that their teeth are growing healthily. Starting children early will also ensure that they’re more comfortable in visiting the dentist in the future and are more likely to adopt healthy dental habits.
Now that you know that the amount of times you visit the dentist every year depends on a patients individual needs. Follow the dentist advice at all times and do not neglect any visits to the dentist. If you’re due a visit to the dentist for a check-up, get started by contacting us here.