How Often Should I See a Dentist?

Visiting the dentist can be dreadful for many, however visiting your dentist regularly is important not just for your mouth, but for your overall health. Your teeth have a synergic relationship between oral health and overall wellness. Gum disease has been linked to a number of illnesses including heart disease, diabetes, respiratory disease, osteoporosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Visiting your dentist regularly is very important. Usually, we suggest every six months to twelve months you should be visiting the dentist. Our patient’s health shows when they visit regularly, we are able to manage and treat any oral health issues before they get out of control and can become costly.

A few reasons why visiting your dentist is not only valuable to you but important are:

• Regular exams

Getting a regular exam each year with your dentist is beneficial as they check to make sure your teeth are still healthy, clean them and tackle any problems that may have arisen over the past year that you may not have identified as a problem yet.

• Prevent problems

Knowing the importance of oral maintenance and good dental hygiene is crucial to preventing problems. Any issues that arise can be tackled before they start to cause pain or cause problems.

• Cleaning

Getting a regular dental cleaning helps to reduce any issues you may be facing. Cleanings help to remove stains, give you a brighter smile, and also remove plaque. Plaque is a clear, sticky layer of bacteria that is found on your teeth and can build up and lead to tooth decay and gum disease if not dealt with. If not removed it can start to harden and turn into tartar.

• Extra care

Sudden pain definitely warrants a visit to the dentist. Whether it is tooth sensitivity, toothache, or other issues, you should book in as soon as possible. Leaving a problem to get better on its own can result in even more issues down the road.

• Health Issues

Regular checkups help to change any unhealthy habits you may have started. As well, dentists are able to diagnose any disease they come into contact with and know where there will be any implications on your teeth. Dentists offer proper advice and recommend oral treatments to help you with your dental needs.

• Children

If you have children of your own, routinely taking them to visit the dentist is crucial, as you want to instill the importance of good dental hygiene as early on as possible. Their first visit to the dentist should be within the first 6 months of their first tooth appearing. As well, dentists can check the teeth are developing healthy, and that there are no problems arising as well regular dental visits will get your children accustomed to the dental tools used during their visit. The more comfortable your child becomes with going to the dentist, the better it will be as they will likely continue to maintain their good dental health habits into adulthood.

Neglecting your teeth and oral health can cause a number of issues to arise. Our technicians will be able to remove any hardened plaque from your teeth along with stain and tartar buildup that regular brushing and flossing maintenance are not able to remove. Plaque can only be removed with specialized dental tools that are used during your dental visit. Your dental hygienist can also check for signs of gingivitis, gum disease, oral cancer, and other issues that can go undetected during your regular dental cleaning.

We understand that life can sometimes get in the way, and you may have forgotten to book your dental checkup and cleaning for a while. Here is what to expect if you haven’t seen your dentist in a while:

1. Gum bleeding
When our hygienist starts to floss, it can cause your gums to bleed. Gums bleed as they may not be used to the pressure of floss as it moves between your teeth.

2. Extended cleaning
You have probably accrued an extensive amount of plaque on the surfaces of your teeth, due to this your hygienist may do an extended cleaning to professionally clean each tooth.

3. Dental X-rays
These are important, as it helps your dentist to diagnose any oral health needs that need to be reviewed. Any underlying problems not seen with the eye originally will be brought to light with a dental x-ray.

4. Comprehensive oral exam
After the cleaning, the dentist will carefully inspect for cavities, signs of periodontal disease, and oral cancer.

For more information, call us for your regular checkup today with the Great Smiles Family Dentist. We Serve Patients From Toledo OH, Oregon OH, Ottawa Hills OH, Perrysburg OH, Woodhurst OH, Sylvania OH, and Shoreland OH.