While there is no blanket answer on how often everyone should see a dentist, most dental care professionals suggest getting an appointment every six months. But, why is it important to see my dentist every 6 months?
Simple – this period of time is more than enough to detect dental problems at an early stage. Let’s look at how regular checkups detect conditions before they progressively worsen.
Preventing Plaque Buildup
No matter how thoroughly you brush and floss your teeth, these steps are not enough of a guarantee to good oral health.
Adding a regular dentist visit ensures that the built-up plaque in your teeth has been successfully removed. Plaque is that sticky substance that promotes the growth of bacteria and hardens into tartar, which eventually leads to periodontal disease and tooth loss.
The longer plaque stays in your teeth, the more it will calcify and become harder to remove. At this stage, the plaque removal will require the expertise of a hygienist or dentist.
Detecting Dental Problems
Even if you do take care of your teeth and gums, you still need to see a dentist regularly because some of these dental problems do not have any obvious symptoms at the beginning.
Some will only make their presence felt until they are at an advanced stage, making them harder to treat.
Regular visits are highly encouraged to diagnose and treat tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer at an early stage. Fortunately, most of these dental issues can be corrected if caught and treated correctly within the prescribed six months. Going to the dentist regularly will also make preventive care and maintenance more effective.
You might need to visit more often if you have any of these oral health problems:
- Smokers
- Pregnant women
- Diabetic
- Cancer patients
- Weak immune system
- Advanced gum disease
- Heart disease
If you belong to this group of high-risk people, you need to talk to your dentist to determine the best schedule and frequency of your dental visits.
So, why is it important to see my dentist every 6 months?
Because regular visits keep you more healthy! If you don’t have a dentist, talk to our staff at Elite Smiles by calling (865) 637-5708. We’ll come up with a treatment plan and schedule for you.