Regular dental care is important to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. It is recommended to visit the dentist every six months for cleanings, exams, and x-rays. More frequent visits may be necessary if experiencing pain or other issues.
Years ago, people didn’t have access to regular dental care, and tooth decay was a much more serious problem than it is today. However, access to dental care only helps if you see your dentist regularly. In general, it’s best to go to the dentist every six months. When you go to the dentist every six months, allow your dental care provider to take care of routine maintenance and preventative processes that can help you stop tooth decay or prevent it before it even starts. Also allow your dentist to make note of any serious problems that may develop.
When you go to the dentist every six months, you can generally expect to get a teeth cleaning. This regular cleaning is meant to scrape off plaque and tartar that you can’t remove with your regular toothbrush. Your dentist may also use special tools, or even regular floss, between your teeth to get rid of buildup that you may miss with your regular oral care routine. Additionally, your dentist may apply fluoride to your teeth to further prevent tooth decay.
In addition to your cleanings, your dentist will regularly examine your mouth for signs of tooth decay and gum disease. Using a mirror and special dental tools, he usually taps and probes each tooth to find out whether or not it has problems. It might also check for pockets of space between your gums and teeth. Too much space between the teeth and gums can indicate the early stages of gum disease. Also, your dentist will likely look for visible signs of oral cancer at every regular exam.
In addition to regular cleanings, you can also expect regular x-rays when you go to the dentist regularly. These x-rays are intended to detect problems that the dentist may not see with the naked eye. For example, if you have a cavity that is about to touch your nerve, an x-ray will prove this to your dentist much more reliably than if he just looked at it. Similarly, dental x-rays can uncover things like impacted teeth, cysts, and abscesses.
While most people recommend going to the dentist every 6 months, you may need to go more frequently. For example, if you start having pain in a tooth, gums, or anywhere else in your mouth, you don’t want to wait for your biannual checkup to go to the dentist. Instead, it’s best to make an appointment right away to avoid problems.
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