What are the benefits of going to the dentist on a regular basis?
You believe you have excellent oral hygiene and brush and floss your teeth on a regular basis to maintain your mouth clean. You may be wondering if you still need to see your dentist on a regular basis due to your outstanding dental hygiene habits. Yes, it is true! Even if you take good care of your teeth and gums at home, it’s still necessary to see your dentist on a regular basis so that he or she can check for concerns you might not see or feel.
Many dental disorders, such as cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer, don’t become evident or cause discomfort until they’ve progressed to a more advanced stage, necessitating more comprehensive treatment and follow-up. Even if you are currently healthy, your risk of developing dental disease might fluctuate over time due to variables such as illness, dietary changes, new drug use, and more. So why take the chance?
Is it necessary for me to see my dentist on a regular basis?
The number of times you visit your dentist should be determined by a number of criteria. This includes your present oral health state, personal dental hygiene habits, general health status and medical conditions, as well as your own self- and dentist-assessed oral health risk.
Identifying your oral disease risk.
All personal health, lifestyle, and hereditary factors that contribute to your risk-level should be considered when evaluating your risk for dental disease. A high-sugar, refined-carbohydrate diet, poor oral hygiene, lack of fluoride-containing water exposure, smoking or other tobacco products, heavy alcohol or recreational drug use, and medical diseases such as diabetes, Sjogren’s Syndrome, and head and neck malignancies are all risk factors.
Visits on a regular basis
Although the data for the best interval for routine dental exams isn’t conclusive, once or twice a year has long been the standard guideline in the United States. Most people with minimal risk of oral disorders, on the other hand, can go to the dentist less frequently, whereas others may need to go more frequently.
Your dental insurance coverage will also influence how frequently you visit the dentist. In general, your dental insurance plan will cover two oral health checkups each year, however this will vary depending on your specific dental insurance plan. Remember, even if you think your mouth is in good shape, you should still get a professional cleaning and annual checkup to make sure everything is in order.
Additional considerations
When deciding how frequently you should see a dentist, there are a few other considerations to consider.
Dental health changes
Have your dental health circumstances changed recently? Chipped, cracked, or shifting teeth, swollen or bleeding gums, chronic dental discomfort, and sensitivity to cold or hot beverages are some of the things to keep an eye out for. Make an appointment with your dentist if any of these situations occur.
Dental work and maintenance
If you have dental work done, such as a filling, crown, or oral surgery, you may need to return to the dentist for follow-up visits to verify your teeth and gums are healing properly. This normally entails a quick examination by your dentist, as well as the opportunity to ask your dentist any questions you may have concerning the recent dental procedure. It’s worth noting that if you have active periodontal (gum) disease, you may require more regular checkups to keep your condition under control. These visits could happen every 2-6 months.
Children’s dental visits
In general, children should get their first oral exam by their first birthday, or as soon as their first baby tooth emerges. Dental checks should be done as often as your dentist recommends as your child grows older, which is usually every six months to a year.
Adult dental examinations
Dental check-ups are suggested at various intervals for adults. Regular attendees, on the other hand, are those who visit the dentist at least once a year, according to the majority of research. The frequency with which you see the dentist will be determined by your personal oral health needs, as well as if you are prone to cavities, gum disease, or other oral health problems. The rate at which stain and dental plaque grow on a person’s teeth varies, and some people may benefit from a more frequent cleaning regimen if their teeth are more prone to staining or calculus build-up.
Groups at high risk
Because oral health issues are more likely to occur in the following groups, they may need to see the dentist more frequently:
- Smokers
- Expectant mothers
- People who have diabetes, Sjogren’s syndrome, HIV/AIDS, and other medical issues
- People with active gum disease, a weakened immune response to bacterial infection, a proclivity for cavities or plaque buildup,
- People who suffer from dry mouth.
- Older adults
Call us today to set up an appointment with a Houston dentist at one of our 3 Houston locations. Our dentists at H-Town Dental will go over correct flossing and brushing practices with you so that you can keep your teeth healthy, we provide both low-cost and high-quality general dentistry services and there’s nobody better than us to tell you how often you should visit a dentist.
