How Often Should You Get a Dental Checkup?

Oral health is a key factor to your overall well being. To keep your oral health in check, it is suggested to get regular checkups.

Professional Recommendations:

Most professionals recommend to schedule dental checkups every six months. Generally during these visits, they do a thorough examination of your gums and teeth. They also perform a professional cleaning to remove any buildup of tartar and plaque.

Importance:

It is very important to get examinations of your mouth by a professional often to possibly catch problems like cavities, oral cancer, or gum disease. By getting checkups often, you improve the chance of finding issues early on and starting treatment. If a problem does arise, you should have good communication with your dentist to help prevent more serious complications later on.

Specific Conditions:

• Medical Conditions - Medical conditions such as heart disease or kidney failure could lead to weaker oral health. Therefore, it is suggested to get get checkups often.

• Dental History - It is recommended to get a checkup every three to four months if you have any negative history regarding your oral health. This can include gum disease, oral cancer, etc.

• Lifestyle - Your daily habits can also determine how often you need to be examined. Smoking, eating poorly, or practicing poor oral hygiene in general can cause more frequent visits.

• Age - Younger children tend to need more appointments because of their growing bodies. It is also common to start dental treatments such as braces or aligners at a young age which need to be checked by a dentist/orthodontist often.

Maintaining Good Oral Health:

It is recommended to follow healthy habits daily to have a healthy mouth. Some habits are brushing twice a day, using mouthwash, flossing daily, eating a balanced diet, and staying hydrated. Additionally, scheduling dental checkups routinely should be a key part to maintaining your health.

Sources:

• https://penndentalmedicine.org/phmc-cedar-campus/blog/how-often-to-see-dentist/

• https://penndentalmedicine.org/blog/how-often-should-you-go-to-the-dentist/

• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/16914-oral-hygiene

• https://www.cdc.gov/oral-health/index.html

Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board