You may consider yourself to have excellent oral hygiene, regularly brushing and flossing your teeth. Perhaps you use cavity-prevention toothpaste and mouthwash as an added precaution, and you’ve never noticed any tooth pain or problems of any kind. You might then wonder if you need to visit the dentist regularly or even at all, and the answer is a decisive yes.
While brushing and flossing do a wonderful job of preventing cavities, you could have one or two of them growing without even realizing it. Other problems like gum disease and oral cancer are not readily apparent to most individuals, and a visual inspection in your bathroom mirror is going to be insufficient to detect them. New York dentist Dr. Payam Cohen, D.D.S, P.C. explains how often you should visit the dentist’s office and why frequent examinations and cleanings are so important.
How Often Do I Need to See My Dentist?
There is no exact schedule for seeing the dentist that fits everyone. The frequency by which each individual needs to visit the dentist will vary by such factors as their health, their oral hygiene habits, and whether they or a dental professional have previously identified any problems.
As a general rule, an individual should visit the dentist at least once or twice every year for an oral health checkup and teeth cleaning. Some people with a low risk of oral disease and cavities could probably stretch this time period to once every 18-24 months. Let your dentist make the call and recommend a schedule that matches your exact dental needs.
Factors to Consider As You Schedule Your Visits
When determining which timeframe is appropriate for your dental visits, you should take all of the following into consideration:
- Diet: If you have a diet that is high in sugar and carbohydrates, or you drink alcohol often, there is a greater risk of dental problems.
- Poor hygiene: Some individuals don’t brush or floss enough (the recommended frequency is twice daily and once daily, respectively), so should see the dentist sooner.
- Use of water without fluoride: Fluoridated water is intended to prevent tooth decay and cavities, but if you don’t drink water with fluoride in New York you may be at risk.
- Heavy tobacco use: Another risk factor for tooth problems is heavy use of tobacco products like cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco (e.g. dip).
- Certain medical conditions: A number of health issues such as diabetes and Sjogren’s Syndrome should also prompt an individual to see the dentist more regularly.
- Injuries and other issues: If you have suffered injury to your face or teeth, or you notice pain or excessively bleeding gums (especially during flossing), see a dentist.
- Dental insurance: Whether a patient has dental insurance, and what the plan covers (typically, it includes preventive care and cleanings), will also affect how often they visit.
More Frequent Visits For Young Children
Children should have their first dental examination once their first baby tooth comes in, or by their first birthday. As the child ages, the dentist will recommend how often checkups should occur. Dentists usually recommend a visit once every six months to a year.
Count on Dr. Payam Cohen For Your Dental Needs
Find out why so many New York dental patients trust Dr. Payam Cohen for their routine visits and other dental needs like periodontics and cosmetic dentistry. If it’s been a while since you have visited a dentist office, schedule your appointment with us today. Call or contact us online to get started.