Smiling is a universal sign of happiness! Keeping your teeth healthy with regular dental visits is important for your oral health, as well as for overall disease prevention. You might be wondering how often you should visit your dentist, but the truth is, there is no fixed answer. Although the general rule of thumb suggests visiting your dentist office twice a year, the American Dental Association (ADA), explains that every person is different. In fact, scheduling dental visits should be based on each person’s oral care needs, habits and medical conditions.
Dental visits for adults – As an adult, regular dental visits are very important because they help your dentist catch early signs of oral problems and such conditions as gum disease and cavities. Healthy habits – like brushing your teeth and flossing daily – are the best way to fight gum disease and tooth decay. Detecting these symptoms at an early stage can help your dentist treat them before they develop into a more serious problem. Also, catching a dental problem early helps reduce the amount of pain, difficulty and cost to treat the problem.
Visiting your dentist regularly also plays a big role in setting a good example for your children, as they will learn that routine care is important for their lifelong dental health.
At NK Family Dental, Dr. Nilofer Khan is here to advise you and help you organize the best schedule for your routine dental visits.
Dental visits for kids – According to the ADA and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), a child’s first visit should be when the first tooth erupts, or by their first birthday. For children, it is recommended that they visit the dentist every six months to prevent cavities and other issues. According to the ADA, a baby can get cavities as soon as he or she has teeth. Dr. Khan can help educate you about caring for your child’s early teeth, and on how often they should receive a dental checkup.
High-risk groups – Visiting a dentist twice a year works well for most people. However, those exposed to higher risks of dental diseases are advised to visit their dentist every three to four months, or even more frequently.
You’re more prone to dental diseases if you’re:
- A smoker – Tobacco use may lead to gum disease or oral cancer.
- Pregnant – Pregnancy can cause inflammation of the gums.
- Diabetic – Diabetes increases the risk of gum disease and other oral problems.
- Undergoing cancer treatment – Can cause dry mouth or infections.
- Already suffering from gum disease.
- HIV-positive – Increases the risk of dental decay and infections.
- Generally predisposed to cavities.
Urgent visits – If any pain or symptoms appear suddenly – such as swollen, red or bleeding gums, mouth sores, sensitive teeth or pain in the jaw – you should see your dentist immediately.
Even if you have good oral hygiene, you still need to schedule an appointment with your dentist regularly. Many dental problems are undetectable by the sufferer until they reach a more advanced stage, in which case saving the tooth (or teeth) may no longer be possible. Maintaining good oral health can significantly reduce the number of emergency dental office visits and increase your chances of keeping your teeth for a lifetime.
NK Family Dental is your best choice for family dentistry because we, as a team, are dedicated to informing our patients about the importance of maintaining a regular oral health routine to prevent you and your family from dealing with oral health complications.
Combining state-of-the-art technology and advanced procedures, Dr. Khan treats patients of all ages, and will ensure you get the best dental treatment available. Request an appointment with Dr. Khan and learn more about our dental services!