How Often Do I Need To Really See A Dentist?
The conventional wisdom is that you should go see a dentist every two years. But this isn't always set in stone. Sometimes, you can get away with only one dentist visit a year if you do not have any serious dental problems and if you take really good care of your teeth. However, if you are a smoker, have serious underlying health problems, or if you do not have good oral hygiene, you might need to see a dentist more often.
Your Smoking Habit
Not only will a cigarette habit affect your oral health, but smoking a pipe or a cigar will as well. Smoking can cause bone and tooth loss.
The best way to avoid the negative health effects of smoking is to quit. However, if you continue to smoke, you will need to see a dentist more often so he or she can monitor any developing health problems resulting from your habit. Also, your dentist might recommend a toothpaste that is designed specifically for smokers. You may also need stronger mouthwash to remove the bad breath associated with smoking.
If you smoke and consume foods that stain your teeth, these will be compounding factors that will cause your teeth to be stained even further. Therefore, you will want to give up foods such as coffee if you want to minimize how stained your teeth become.
Your General Health
If you are older, you will need to see a dentist more often. The older you are, the more likely that accumulated problems will lead to you more strongly needing oral care. For example, you may need dentures and may need to have the dentures regularly fitted.
Certain diseases, such as diabetes, can contribute to oral health problems. Diabetes will increase the risk of gum disease and tooth loss. Also, diabetes can cause blood sugar levels to rise, which will make diabetes less manageable. You might need to see your dentist more often and he or she will be a part of your diabetes management team.
Your Oral Health
Those who can go to the dentist the least are those who brush and floss regularly. Also, if you generally eat healthy, you do not have to go to the dentist as often. But you should at least go to the dentist once a year because you will want to catch serious diseases early on before they progress to more serious stages. Even if you feel fine, you might have a developing oral health problem that only your dentist can identify and treat.
For more information, look at this website.
Share