How often should you go to the dentist?

Is there a hard and fast rule to how often you should be visiting the dentist? Some people have heard that once a year or twice a year is required – but there can be arguments for either of those intervals, or even more often! How often you go in for dental check ups and cleanings is reflective of your oral health – how susceptible are you to cavities and gum disease? And of course, we can’t discuss this topic without acknowledging that some portions of the population don’t have access to regular dental check ups.

The Importance of Going to the Dentist? 

First off – why should you go to the dentist, even if everything feels fine? Because the dentist can see issues that you are unable to see yourself! There are many conditions that don’t cause any symptoms. You won’t feel gum disease – gingivitis or periodontitis – for example. And cavities usually only become painful once they are very, very large. Catching these conditions early is key because often at the early stages they can be reversed without any permanent damage. Even small cavities can be stopped and the weakened enamel remineralized if proper measures are put in place at the right time. That means avoiding the drill all together! And gingivitis and reversible without damage to the underlying bone if treated before it has progressed to periodontitis.

A Dental Check-Up Explained

Let’s talk about what actually happens at a dental check up:

Your whole mouth will be assessed – that includes teeth, gums, and oral mucosa (inside of your cheeks, tissue covering your palate, etc). Your overall general health will be taken into account when evaluating your mouth – some conditions can have a huge impact on your oral health. And oral problems you might be experiencing will be discussed as well as your habits such as dietary intake, smoking, alcohol, etc. With all that information in mind, your dentist will give you advice about necessary preventative measures and treatments, as well as a personalized check up interval schedule. For some, this might mean a recall schedule of once a year, sometimes even less often, if things are incredible stable and low maintenance. Some dentists don’t feel comfortable going more than 6 months between check ups, even for those in good health, to ensure that any potential future conditions are spotted early. But for some patients check ups/cleanings need to be about every 3 months.

Why Might I Need to go to the Dentist More Often?

There are several reasons your might need to go to the dentist more often. Patients undergoing active treatment for their gum disease (periodontitis) are often going in every 3 months – that’s four times a year! This is necessary to keep calculus and bacteria under control. At the first stages of treatment, visits might be even more often than that. Smokers and diabetics are especially prone to gum disease, so those can be contributing factors to how often your check up schedule is. Many pregnant women will develop pregnancy gingivitis, a gum condition which develops because of hormones that is important to get under control. Patients one immunosuppressant medications are also at risk of developing certain oral conditions such as oral cancers or fungal infections, and many dentists choose to see these patients more often. And lastly, some of us just develop plaque and calculus quickly and need to get it cleaned off professionally more often!

What Can I Do to Minimize Dentist Appointments?

If you want to keep your dental visits to a minimum, do what you can to keep your mouth as healthy as possible! This means following the personalized advice that your dentist has given you about your mouth. And in general, keeping your mouth as clean as possible will reduce potential problems. So take this as your reminder to floss nightly, brush twice a day, and use auxillary products such as interdental brushes, a tongue scraper, and mouth was as needed.

When Might I Need to Visit the Dentist Sooner?

You definitely want to call and schedule an appointment if you are experiencing any problems – such as tooth pain or painful/ sore gums. Other symptoms worth calling about include intraoral ulcers that don’t heal, jaw and facial pain, persistent sinus pain, etc. Your dentist has expertise in the entire head and neck region and can be crucial in diagnosing and treating conditions such as oral cancer, TMJ, and sinus infections.

What if I haven’t Had a Checkup for a Long Time?

Your dentist won’t judge you! Your dentist regularly sees patients who haven’t been in for a long time, so don’t feel like you’re the only one. What’s most important is that you are there now. Now is the best time to get a status update and come up with a plan for any future treatment that might be needed.

What if I’m Nervous About my Appointment?

Being nervous or scared for dental appointments is so normal. It’s best to communicate your feelings with your dentist and be as specific as possible. Why are you nervous? Are you anxious about what the dentist will find or are you scared of something being painful? There are so many different reasons why people are nervous or scared and when your dentist understands exactly what the issue is for you, they are able to tailor the appointment to make you as comfortable as possible. But remember, the more you have good experiences at the dentist, the less scary it will be over time. So consider this another plug to go in for regular check ups! Some extra things that might help make the experience more calming for you is listening to music through headphones while the dentist is working or wearing sunglasses. You can also agree on hand signals with your dentist before they start a procedure – knowing that you can communicate when you need a little break can have a huge impact on your overall wellbeing. And of course, find a dentist who makes you feel comfortable and safe. If you don’t have great chemistry with one, there is nothing wrong with trying another dentist who might connect with you better.

What age should children start to go to regular dental check ups?

The official guidelines vary slightly from country to country, but in general children should start going to the dentist when their baby teeth have come in. There are several important reasons to get your child in to the dentist from an early age, but first, let’s recap why baby teeth are important to take care of. Baby teeth because they are important place holders for the adult teeth that come in after. When a baby tooth is lost prematurely, there is an increased likelihood that the adult tooth will not emerge in the correct location or at the correct angulation. And what impact does this have? More orthodontic work in the future – hello braces! So it is super important that cavities are identified when they are small, because cavities on baby teeth can grow quickly and can result in the need for extraction if spotted too late. The comfort of the child is also a super important consideration – the smaller the procedure, the better tolerated it will be. But even if your kiddo doesn’t have any cavities, routine check ups help build trust and safety in the dental office. The more positive experiences the child has, the less likely they are to develop a fear of the dentist later. And for those of you who are afraid of the dentist, who know how impactful this can be.

How often should elderly people visit the dentist?

As often as their dentist recommends! There is often a need for elderly patients to come in more frequently. Reduced manual dexterity with age can have a huge impact on oral hygiene. Dry mouth is also a frequent finding among the elderly due to age and medication use, and this can wreak havoc on a smile – cavities grow at lightning speed when there is not enough saliva present in the mouth. Elderly patients also often have more dental work in their mouths after a lifetime of using their teeth, so there can be more to check and maintain.

Treat yourself to a regular Schedule of Dental Care

Remember – oral care is self care! Your mouth deserves the same attention that you give to the rest of your body. And while we’re talking about your body, it’s important to acknowledge that more and more diseases are being linked to oral health – diabetes, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, just to name a few. So, taking care of your mouth is actually good for your whole body! So go book your dental check up! Don’t be self-conscious about how long it’s been since last time – your dentist is ready to help you come up with a plan of action moving forward, both in terms of treatment and habits/routines that are personalized to you. Trust me, you’ll be so happy you went!