How Often Should I Go to the Dentist… and Why?

First of all, no two people, and no two patients, are the same.  So the frequency with which you’ll want to see the dentist varies, depending on your health, age, and other factors.  But the American Dental Association recommends the average person with healthy teeth visit his or her dentist once every six months.

Here are a few factors to consider, though.

First, it is crucial that children see the dentist no less frequently than twice a year.  Children’s teeth are still growing, and they are losing baby teeth.  Your dentist needs to access whether your child’s teeth are growing properly and if your child will need braces.  It is also important to create good dental hygiene habits in children early on, and bi-yearly visits to the dentist instill an important routine in children’s minds, as well as educate them on proper brushing and flossing techniques that will benefit them over their lifetime.

Second, a cleaning at the dentist is very different from what you can do at home.  What you get at the dental office is a deep cleaning, to remove plaque and tarter you can’t remove with regular tooth brushing.  You also receive a full dental exam that can include x-rays to check for abnormalities, cavity detection before small problems turn into bigger ones, and a check for signs of gum disease, decay or oral cancer.

Third, depending on how consistent and thorough you are with your dental hygiene, you may need to see the dentist more than twice a year.

My advice is to ask your dentist how often he or she recommends you – specifically you – visit the dentist.  You may get away with less frequent visits, or you may need more frequent visits.  Even if your insurance does not cover more than two visits per year, if you are an at-risk patient, you will save money in the long run by paying the minimal fees for the proper amount of checkups needed to keep your mouth – and yourself – healthy.