How often should dentist visits be? Do you still need to go regularly even if you brush your teeth everyday? What about those who have bad tooth-brushing habits?
More than 50 years ago, physical examinations of people enlisting in the military showed that a lot of Americans’ teeth were mostly in bad condition. During that time, only few people took good care of their teeth. How could that be, you ask? Dentists say that its probably because there were no guidelines on how often you should see a dentist back then. In addition, many dentists focused on fixing problems rather than preventing them. Good news for you is, our dentists today have addressed both problems.
Today, more than 100 million Americans still fail to see a dentist each year. Even though dentists have already set guidelines on how often dentist visits be, a lot of people still fail to comply. The most common excuse is; “I brush everyday so there is no need!” Of course, we all know this is a wrong assumption. Another excuse is, “I’m not having any symptoms, why should I?” Even if you don’t have any symptoms, you can still have dental health problems that only a dentist can diagnose.
Dentists, who have come together as a group of health care professionals concerned for the health of their patients, made known to everyone that it is in everyone’s best interest to come see a dentist every 6 months. Every person, whether you have good teeth or not, whether your gums are healthy or not, whether you build up a lot of plaque and tartar or not, you will need to see a dentist every 6 months.
This is, of course, a recommendation only. Other people may need more frequent visits. People with very little risk of cavities or gum disease can do fine seeing their dentist just once a year but these are people who brush everyday and do not smoke. People with a high risk of acquiring dental diseases, especially those who smoke and have poor oral hygiene might need to visit every three or four months, or even more.
Have we convinced you now? How do you find a good dentist then, you ask? Aren’t you on the America Top 10 website right now? Yup, finding a good dentist in your area are just few clicks away.
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