Getting a dental exam isn’t going to be the highlight of your year. However, it is an extremely important part to your personal hygiene. Having unkept teeth not only increases your risk for gum disease but can also affect many other aspects of your health. At the least, dentists only ask for a visit twice a year, which isn’t so bad. Yet many people wonder: why twice a year? Why not just once a year or even better, every other year?
Instead of dreading your sixth month dentist appointment, what you should be asking is: “how much do you value your teeth”?
The Scientific Reason for Two Dentist Appointments A Year
The truth of it is there really isn’t a finite scientific reason for going to the dentist twice a year. In fact, going to the dentist twice a year for a checkup is a relatively new medical guideline.
However, this does not mean it is ok to skip that second appointment!
A little more than a half a century ago, the United States military began giving dental exams for newly enlisted members. Shockingly, it was clear to the military and the United States Government that American’s people had extremely poor dental hygiene.
Why It Isn’t a Good Idea to Skip That Second Appointment
The medical and dental community took action, putting in place guidelines that had never existed before in America. Those guidelines included brushing the teeth twice a day, flossing the teeth once a day, and going to the dentist for dental exams twice a year.
These guidelines proved to be extremely reliable and sufficient in preventing cavities and gum disease. Furthermore, certain deficiencies can be detected from the condition of your gums, along with many diseases. Going to the dentist twice a year can be another way to keep your heath in check.
The reality is, no matter how well you take care of your teeth at home, plaque and tartar will still form in those deep, hard to reach places in the teeth and gums. By getting two dental exams a year, the dentist can thoroughly clean these hard to reach areas. This greatly helps prevent gum disease and cavities. If left untouched, these areas will build up with bone eating plaque, which will feast on your gums and teeth.
If it’s been a while since you have had a dental exam, it is never too late to start. The process is extremely pain free, requiring less than an hour of your time. During the exam, the dentist will ask you questions about your dental history and current dental routines and habits. You can expect to answer questions such as: Do you have any current health problems? Are you diabetic? What medications are you currently taking?
Then the dentist will evaluate your overall oral health including: tooth decay, stains, bite alignment and any jaw problems that may exist. After your history is documented, your cleaning will begin and before you know it, your dentist visit is complete.
While it can be hard to find time every six months to set an appointment, the consequences of skipping it all together can put you at great risk of both dental diseases and tooth loss.
