Now that the New Year has officially arrived
you may want to start 2016 off the right way by scheduling a dental appointment
with your dentist.
According to Colgate, some people may only
need to visit the dentist once a year; however, there are patients that should
schedule dental appointments twice a year.
Over 50 years ago, people who were having
dental examinations to enter the military didn’t have the best teeth and gums;
in fact, they were in quite bad shape. Back then, most people did not take oral
hygiene or oral health seriously, as there were really no guidelines when it
came to how often you should see your dentist. These days’ dentists concentrate
on preventive dentistry. Decades ago, most dentists focused on fixing dental
problems instead of helping prevent them.
Your dentist explains that even if you
practice good oral health habits, including brushing twice and flossing once
each day along with a good diet, you still need to schedule annual or bi-annual
appointments with your dentist.
During your dental appointment, your dentist
will check for any problems that you cannot feel or see. Unfortunately, quite a
few of the dental problems that occur are not visible until they are more advanced.
These include gum disease, cavities, and oral cancer. When you see your dentist
on a regular basis, any problems can be treated before they become serious.
Seeing a dentist twice a year works for most
people, while some can go longer between visits. Other patients may require
additional dental visits. People who are not at risk when it comes to gum
disease and cavities may be able to get away with seeing a dentist every 12
months. However, those that run a higher risk of dental problems may need to
schedule appointments with their dentist every three to four months or even
more frequently. People in the high-risk group include:
- Pregnant women
- Smokers
- Diabetics
- People who have gum disease
- People who have a weak immune system when it comes to bacterial infections
- People who have plaque buildup
- People who have a tendency to get more cavities than others do
Your dental appointment schedule could change
during your lifetime as illness or stress may require more dental appointments
than usual.
Start the New Year off the right way and
schedule your annual, bi-annual of quarterly appointment with your dentist
today.
