We want to take good care of our teeth. That goes without saying. We’ve only got the one set for the rest of our lives, and we want them to last! And just as importantly, we want our family members, spouses, sons, and daughters to take good care of their teeth as well. Proper dental care can go a long way as a preventative action for reducing tooth and gum-related health issues, but even regular care is no replacement for frequent visits to your family dentist.
Dentists are trained to examine and notice possible complications in our teeth, gums, and mouths. They can see things that we can’t see, literally! And not only are frequent visits to the dentist good for catching a problem before it gets too big, but a dentist can often see a problem before it develops. Then he or she can advise the proper care to prevent the problem from manifesting.
So if visits to the dentist are so important, how often should you go to the dentist? How often should you take your family there?
Regular, Planned Dental Visits are Effective
First off, you should always consult with your family dentist in determining how often you should pay him or her a visit or take your family in. We’re all a little different, and we all have different sets of teeth and gums in different degrees of health and cleanliness. So consulting with your own dentist on how often to schedule visits is always wise.
However, if we look to “Delta Dental” a not-for-profit, online database and one of the world’s largest Oral Health Libraries, we can get a great, direct quote from them on the general advisement for dental checkups. The database says that for adults:
- “An adult with good oral hygiene and no problems at checkups may need to come in once or twice a year. Someone with a lot of tartar or cavities may need to come more often.”
And for a child or young adult, the database says that:
- “As your child gets older, he or she should have dental checkups as often as the dentist advises. Most dentists recommend a dental visit every six months to help prevent cavities and other problems.”
As a general rule, most dentists recommend that children, adolescents, young adults, fully grown adults, and seniors present themselves for checkups at dental offices about once every six months, if they are already in average to above-average health. If they are in below average or poor dental health, most dentists will recommend three to four visits per year, especially if correctional work is being done.
Making Dental Visits Quick and Easy
The generally agreed upon rule of thumb is two visits per year (best to schedule them once every six months, just to keep the routine in). But if you want to make that visit as quick and easy as possible (and if you want to do your best to ensure the dental staff finds nothing pressing or concerning during their inspection), make sure that you take good care of your teeth every day. Make sure your kids do this too and make sure your spouse is on board as well.
Dental care is all about regularity and routine. Brushing three times a day. Flossing once a day. Mouthwash once or twice a day. A trip to the dentist once every six months. Teeth and gums are incredibly resilient, but continued care is the key to keeping them so resilient.
It’s not too difficult to remember to brush those teeth after every meal, and floss once a day before bed. Such daily habits and rituals will make for a clean, tidy, healthy, and vibrant mouth and teeth that will last for years to come. And besides, there’s nothing better than having a dentist look in your mouth and say, “Wow, what a great set of chompers you have!”
For more information about dental visits, how often you should come in for a checkup, and how easy it is to schedule a checkup with us, contact Avenue Dental Arts today. We can be reached at (860) 233-2378. Or you can visit us in person at 799 Farmington Ave. West Hartford, CT 06119.
Source citation from Delta Dental’s online database:
http://oralhealth.deltadental.com/Adolescent/DentalVisit/22,DD201
