Five Excellent Reasons to Visit the Dentist Every Six Months

Perhaps nobody actually enjoys going to the dentist, but a regular visit that involves cleaning and an exam is essential to ensuring excellent dental health throughout one’s life. The American Dental Association advises a minimum of one dental visit a year, but most dentists recommend a visit every six months and even more frequently when the patient already has gum disease.

Here are five excellent reasons to support that recommendation:

1. Tooth Decay Prevention – Tooth decay can occur long before it is obvious to the affected person, but your dentist can notice the earliest signs that your teeth are being attacked. A lot can happen in six months when it comes to your dental health, and when you schedule a dental visit within that time period, your dentist can reverse whatever effect the plaque buildup has had. If, on the other hand, you skip the visit, it can lead to irritation, discomfort, and even cavities and gum disease.
2. Remove Plaque – Plaque is a deposit that builds up on your teeth and around the gumline, and it contains a great deal of harmful bacteria. The best way to avoid plaque is to brush and floss on a regular basis, but research shows that many adults do not follow brushing and flossing recommendations. In fact, one in 10 people forget to clean their teeth on a regular basis. That leads to tartar, which can discolor your teeth and worse. A visit to your dentist ensures that you are plaque-free no matter the circumstances.
3. Prevent Gum Disease – Gum disease prevention begins with regular brushing, flossing, and rinsing, but your at-home dental care alone is not enough. Seeing your dentist on a regular basis allows them to examine your teeth and gums, correct problems in their earliest stages, and provide preventative recommendations. Only a dentist can diagnose gum disease before it has evolved from gingivitis to periodontitis, which is uncurable and only treatable. Taking a visit off may seem harmless, but red and swollen gums that make it uncomfortable to eat and drink can happen before you know it.
4. Save Money – You might not associate dental visits with cost-savings, but they really are when you consider how expensive dental treatments can get when problems are serious. In-office care of your teeth and gums every six months reduces the risk of gum disease and tooth decay. That lets you avoid fillings for cavities, root canal therapies, tooth extractions, and other expensive treatments.
5. Enhance Your Smile – There was a time when pearly whites were associated with Hollywood stars, but times have changed. Having a perfect smile does not have to cost a fortune, and regular visits to a dentist ensure bright white teeth while also avoiding serious problems. How important is a beautiful smile? Consider a recent study by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, which tells us that 96 percent of Americans consider a great smile an important part of overall attractiveness, and 74 percent believe that an unattractive smile will interfere with your career goals.

A visit to your dentist every six months can avoid tooth decay, eliminate plaque, prevent gum disease, save you money, and beautify your smile. Sure, there are other places you and everyone else would rather be, but it is a small sacrifice to make when you consider all of the long-term benefits.

Visit Us for Your Biannual Checkup

Has it been longer than six months since your last checkup and cleaning? Perhaps you’ve put it off for a year or more due to anxieties or because life got in the way. At Scottsdale Cosmetic Dentistry Excellence, we understand and want to help. Jeffrey D. Clark, DDS is a leading cosmetic dentist who can assist you in personalizing your dental care and ensuring a beautiful smile throughout your life. Call us today at 480 585 1853 to schedule your appointment or to ask any questions you may have.