How Often Should You Go to the Dentist?
As in many professions, dentistry has a baseline established for the number of appointments you should make with your dentist in a year. There are no exceptions or deviations based on your personal health and habits, either good or bad. A contributing element to that baseline which is often overlooked is the health of your smile. Your smile is an overlooked and under-appreciated asset. An asset that is taken for granted by most until something negative happens to your smile. Your smile is the basic foundation of your personality. It influences your level of self-confidence and self-esteem which then impacts your personal, social circles, and your professional encounters. Your dentist is an important member on your team to help maintain the quality of your smile.
How often should you see your Dentist?
The health industry has determined and established that a realistic baseline is to schedule examinations every six months with prevention in mind. This allows your dentist to monitor and then build a history of your oral health. X-rays are used to identify what is happening below your gumline. A thorough exam at these checkups will recognize issues with both your teeth and soft tissue. This exam will also include a screening for oral cancer with your lips and neck.
It is also advantageous to have your teeth professionally cleaned. They will identify trends and give you tips for your at-home oral hygiene as well as recommendations to improve your diet.
If you have a certain health issue, such as diabetes, or are pregnant or enjoy tobacco products, it may be suggested for you to increase your visits to more than two a year. If you have suffered from gum disease in the past, it is also wise to monitor it closely. A weak immune system will also encourage more bacterial infections that then must be dealt with. You could also accumulate plaque quicker than normal and therefore need that plaque removed more often.
Good Oral Health starts at Home
The health industry and your dentist will strongly encourage you to brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time. They will also explain the benefit of flossing every day. Between exercising good oral hygiene at home and your complimentary exams the simple objective is prevention. If you neglect your teeth and gums by avoiding these simple practices, you will find yourself with your dentist now addressing unfortunate and unnecessary problems. This includes cavities from the buildup of plaque or gum disease. It may include root canal pain or an abyss. These problems can all be prevented with your good proactive care.
The Value of your Smile
There has been research conducted to prove and substantiate the value of your smile. Your dentist can also offer measures or treatments to even improve your current smile. By establishing a dentist as your teammate, they can make these objective suggestions. It could be alignment, a gap, a chip, a crack, an uneven gumline or something as simple as whitening your teeth. Let your dentist be your teammate, working for you, and with you, to improve your smile and therefore your quality of life.