While we understand that for some of you, going to the dentist means suffering and trauma, the hard truth is – you have to do it. There are no two ways about it. Even though it means taking time off work and figuring out how to squeeze in your dental appointment in your jam-packed schedule – you have to do it.
Now, what we want to talk to you about today is – how often do you really need to go to the dentist. As you know, there is a general rule of thumb as to how often you should go, but that rarely paints the whole picture. On that note, let’s dig a little deeper and find an actual answer to the question – how often should you go to the dentist?
How Often Should You Go To The Dentist?
As we have already said, the answer to this question isn’t as straightforward as one would’ve hoped. The truth is – it depends on a variety of factors. One of the factors that contribute the most to the frequency of your dental visits is definitely oral hygiene. If you take great care of your teeth and you’re in good health, the general rule of thumb is that you should go in for a check-up once every six months.
This is a general recommendation made by dentists. However, this recommendation only applies to average, healthy people. Think of this as the “best guess”. If you want to learn more about it, check out https://www.mynazarethdentist.com/
A six month period should be more than enough for your stomatologist to catch, prevent, or treat any emerging gum or tooth conditions before they become too hard and expensive to treat.
Cavities, tooth decay, gingivitis, and other common problems can be easily prevented with good oral hygiene, but they’re also easily treatable if caught early, which is exactly what a semi-annual dental check-up will allow your dentist to do. However, as we have already said, this is just a regular recommendation for healthy people.
Who Should See A Dentist More Than Twice A Year?
People with certain conditions are more prone to developing a dental issue. For them, it is recommended to visit the stomatologist’s office once every three months. As for which conditions and which people – we’ll list it all down below.
- Pregnant ladies
- People suffering from diabetes
- People suffering from autoimmune diseases
- Cancer patients
- People suffering from cardiovascular diseases
- Heavy smokers
- Heavy drinkers
- People with weakened immune systems
- People with consistent bad breath
- People with a genetic predisposition for tooth and gum disease
- People with a history of tooth and gum disease
If you belong to any of the aforementioned categories, it is highly recommended that you visit your dentist once every three months. Additionally, if you ever start feeling any pain or discomfort, or you notice frequent bleeding while brushing or flossing – you should see your dentist immediately.
Why Should You Visit Your Dentist Regularly?
Now that we’ve gotten over the scheduling – let’s take a closer look at why you should do it.
Save Your Teeth
As any reliable dentist will tell you – you have to do all that’s in your power to save your teeth. You don’t ever want to get to a point where you have to take your teeth out.
Even though there are amazing dental prosthetics nowadays, nothing really even comes close to your own teeth. And, with regular check-ups, cleanings, and good oral hygiene – you have a much better chance of keeping your pearly whites.
Preventing Potentially Major Issues
It is much better to prevent than to treat a problem – especially when it comes to your teeth. A toothache can virtually paralyze you and cause you all other kinds of issues.
Fortunately, being a regular at your dentist’s office can help you detect potentially very painful and very troublesome issues. Not to mention, it is much more affordable to go in for a check-up and prevent the tooth from going bad than it is to treat it.
Learning About Importance Of Dental Hygiene
As a general rule of thumb, we’re all taught, from an early age, that we should brush our teeth twice a day – as soon as we wake up and before we go to sleep. However, as we all now know – that’s not enough.
Using dental floss is also something that you should do daily. All of this, and more, you’ll be able to learn once you sit in for your next appointment. You will also learn about the benefits of using the correct toothpaste and the correct toothbrush, proper brushing technique, and so much more.
Help Prevent Or Treat Related Issues
There are many issues that can arise from dental issues. Most people don’t even realize it, but dental issues don’t have to showcase as a toothache. They could cause headaches, trouble sleeping, sinus infections, throat infections, and so on. And, while it is possible that your dentist won’t be able to help you with some of those, they will certainly be able to refer you to a doctor that can.
Help Prevent Bad Breath
Bad breath isn’t necessarily caused by bad oral hygiene. Even though bad breath is commonly caused by poor oral hygiene, there could be an underlying issue you do not know about that’s causing you to chew two packs of gums each day and ruin your teeth in the process. A good dentist should easily spot the underlying condition while you’re sitting in for a check-up, and they will most certainly help you treat it.
Sleep Peacefully
Finally, visiting your dentist’s office regularly will help you achieve peace of mind. It is much better for your mental and physical health that you see a doctor over a problem you’re experiencing than it is to lay down at night wondering what’s wrong with you and will it pass on its own. By visiting your stomatologist regularly, you will always know what’s going on, and you’ll never again have to wonder.
Final Thoughts
There you have it. As a general rule of thumb – visit your dentist once every six months. If you’re experiencing any issues or are prone to developing oral problems – either visit upon noticing a problem or go in once every three months.
Hopefully, we’ve managed to answer all of your questions, and we sure hope you’ll schedule your next appointment on time.
