How Often Should You Schedule Your Dental Checkups?

Scheduling a visit to your dentist may seem like a chore for most people, but it is crucial to maintaining proper dental health. Seeing your dentist regularly will help you keep a bright smile, keep cavities at bay, and apprise you of potential issues that will cause immense pain and discomfort when left untreated. For these reasons, your dentist plays a crucial role in making sure you stay healthy throughout your life.

However, you may be wondering how regularly you should see your dentist and when is the best time to schedule an appointment. Not everyone needs to see their dentist numerous times a year, although this relies on many different factors.

The Recommended Visit Frequency

Generally, people should visit the dentist every six months, which is easy for most to incorporate into their busy schedules. Seeing your local dentist twice a year will allow them to monitor your dental health, identify potential problems, and provide treatment immediately to prevent them from worsening.

Each checkup involves a thorough cleaning and inspection to watch for signs of cavities, tooth decay, and other harmful changes. If it’s been a while since your last x-ray, the dentist may take one of you. However, some patients go to their dentist only once a year because they are diligent in taking care of their oral health at home by brushing effectively, flossing every day, and using oral rinses.

Still, it’s important to note that the absence of pain, discomfort, or easily identifiable problems with your mouth or teeth does not mean that everything is in good health. Many dental problems start innocuous or unnoticed and quickly become incredibly painful over time. For you to avoid this, it’s best to adhere to the standard schedule of two visits a year to your dentist.

The Risks of Waiting Too Long to Schedule Your Visit

One of the risks that come with waiting too long between checkups is tooth decay. As you eat, drink, and proceed with your daily routine, bacteria are present in your mouths until you properly eliminate them through dedicated oral hygiene practices. The bacteria create a hostile environment in your mouth that weakens your teeth, eventually forming a cavity in the enamel until it progresses to reach the root of your tooth. You’ll end up with a severe problem that may require expensive surgery and treatment to address.

Even though diligent brushing and flossing will help keep the bacteria in your mouth to a minimum, nothing cleans your mouth better than professional cleaning. It’s best not to risk waiting too long between checkups to avoid these painful and costly scenarios.

The Risk Factors That Require More Frequent Visits

However, some people require more frequent visits to the vet, such as once every quarter. Different conditions or situations can put someone at a higher risk of developing dental problems, such as genetics, certain lifestyles, and other health conditions that impact the mouth.

For example, pregnant women experience numerous puzzling changes to their body due to their fluctuating hormones, such as a heightened sensitivity to smells or tastes that would hamper their previously rigid oral hygiene routine. They may also find the gag-reflex sensation caused by brushing the tongue unbearable, causing their oral health to slip through the cracks. On the other hand, people with diabetes are known to be a higher-risk group for developing dental issues due to their changing glucose levels. They are more at risk of developing tooth decay, which means they’ll need to see their dentist more often than twice a year.

Conclusion

While the recommended visit frequency is at twice a year or every six months, this can change depending on your lifestyle, health conditions, and dedication to your oral health. Ultimately, how often you should see your dentist depends on their assessment of your oral health, but it’s best to schedule a checkup at least twice a year!

Dental House MI offers affordable dentistry to Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, and Waterford residents. With our services of preventive dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, oral surgery, and more, we can help you improve your smile and your overall dental health. Schedule an appointment with us today!