How Often Should You Visit a Dentist?
Despite oral health being a vital part of overall health, more than 2 million Australians choose not to visit the dentist for checkup or treatment. This is primarily attributed to the rising cost of health care. The situation is so severe that public dentists have waiting lines that range from 20 months to 3 years.
While some can live for years and even decades without ever visiting a dentist, it's not always a wise option. Therefore, dentists recommend that you should go for a checkup at least twice a year. Some can do with fewer visits, while others need frequent visits. The frequency depends on factors such as the following.
High-risk individuals
This is a group that contains individuals who are at a higher risk of suffering from dental issues. Dentists recommend that this group increase the frequency of their visits. The group includes pregnant women, smokers and cancer patients. Smokers are prone to tooth decay and gum disease due to the lack of sufficient saliva production, which facilitates the growth of bacteria in the mouth. Alternatively, pregnant women experience a spike in hormones which often results in increased tooth sensitivity, swollen gums, etc. Pregnant women are also susceptible to oral infections.
Being a smoker, pregnant or undergoing cancer treatment affects your health which predisposes you to specific dental issues.
Prevent plaque build-up
Brushing your teeth regularly is great, but some have trouble adhering to the daily routine. Eventually, their teeth begin developing plaque as a result of eating foods like carbohydrates or anything high in sugar. You can't avoid the plaque entirely, but you can reduce the rate of build-up by maintaining good oral hygiene.
Brush your teeth regularly and have regular dental appointments. The dentist will use fluoride treatment to clean your teeth and slow the growth rate of the plaque bacteria. This reduces the build-up of both plaque and tartar, thus preventing tooth decay.
Dental work
Dentists typically request for a follow-up appointment after dental work to ensure that the procedure was a success. For example, once you're fitted with dentures dentists will schedule a follow up to ensure that your dentures are functioning as expected.
Ultimately, the frequency of the visits is decided by the dentist, depending on your individual needs. Over time the frequency will change as your needs change due to age. However, be sure to visit a dentist at least once or twice a year. Contact a dentist in your area to schedule an appointment