How Often Should You See a Dentist?

According to Dr. Nick Seddon, General Dentist, of Oceanfront dental clinic, seeing your dentist twice a year is an important practice for your overall oral hygiene, especially if you are one who is susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease.

Tooth decay and periodontitis can ultimately cause pain and tooth loss. Seeing a dentist twice a year can prevent these problems. If you can’t make it into your dentist’s office twice a year, once a year is key to keeping ahead of the game.

Plaque is continually forming on your teeth and also your gums, eating away your enamel over time, causing cavities. You need to get rid of plaque often. Otherwise, plaque hardens into tartar or calculus, resulting in gum disease. Even thorough and regular brushing and flossing can’t remove tartar. You’ll need a professional with the right tools in order to get them really clean and free of tartar.

There are other health benefits to seeing your dentist regularly. Regular visits can keep more than your teeth healthy. Early signs of other problems such as diabetes or anemia can be detected in your mouth. Your dentist can then refer you to a specialist for a more extensive examination.

So, although the risk is different for everyone and there is no one rule that is right, it is best to err on the side of good health, early detection and prevention. The ultimate goal of your dentist is to see you often enough to prevent health problems either resulting from or showing up in your mouth. Going twice a year can be considered on the safe side. That way, any subtle changes can be detected and caught early, rather than waiting the entire year to find out.

Sometimes life gets in the way of regular dental hygiene. If you’re planning a trip and are experiencing any discomfort, call us and make an appointment. Tell us a little about the specifics of your problem. And if you are in the middle of a course of treatment, be sure to visit your dentist before leaving on your trip. And it is always a good idea to get a check-up after your time away.

For a number of people, going to the dentist can be a stressful experience. Fear of metal in your mouth or pain and pressure causes anxiety. This has become so common that “dental anxiety” is now a colloquialism. Fear not. We’ll make it as comfortable as possible.

Count on your dentist at Oceanfront dental to be a good judge of how often you should get your mouth in front of a professional. Either your doctor or your oral hygienist can make sure that your teeth and gums stay healthy.

If you haven’t had a recent dental check-up, or think that you may need professional cleaning, call or schedule an appointment with Oceanfront dental in Vancouver BC.