As adults, we know it’s difficult to make your oral health a priority. However, if you want to avoid complication as you get older, it’s important that you establish good dental habits early on in your life. At Forest Lawn Dental Centre, we offer expert advice and dental services to everyone in the Calgary area. So, how often does an adult have to visit the dentist? Let our dental professionals walk you through the different factors that determine the ideal frequency of your visits.
The basics While there’s no real answer to the question “how often should I visit the dentist?” there is a generally agreed upon recommendation that most dentists will give to their patients. Most dentists will tell their patients they need to come in for a routine cleaning and exam about once every six months. This will ensure that your mouth is receiving the proper cleaning to keep your teeth healthy, as well as give your dentist the opportunity to track the condition of your oral health at least twice a year. Long-term conditions This is where things get a little bit tricky. While the whole once every six months rule is great, at a certain point it just won’t be enough. If you’ve had any kind of extensive dental work done, you might need to visit your dentist more often to make sure that whatever procedures you’ve had are still holding up. If you have a certain dental condition, the more visits you have, the better your mouth will be in the long run. Follow-up procedures Another factor that will increase the frequency of your dental visits is your specific needs for follow-up work on your teeth. If your biannual check-up shows a need for a crown, a filling or even a major treatment like a root canal, your dental visits will become more frequent. Your personal habits and pre-existing conditions There are some existing conditions and bad habits that put you at a higher risk for dental problems in the future. • Pregnancy: a spike in hormones can cause swollen gums, increased sensitivity and premature tooth decay. • Smoking: will always require more frequent visits. Smoking promotes a higher risk of developing gum disease and tooth decay, not to mention the stains it causes to your teeth. • Cancer treatments: chemotherapy can be very hard on your jaw. Regular dental visits will help ensure no permanent damage is being done. Call us today at Forest Lawn Dental Centre to make an appointment. Visit us here for more information regarding our services.
