When it comes to your health, prevention is always better than cure. And that is especially true for your oral health. Visiting the dentist regularly helps to keep your mouth healthy and can prevent dental problems from occurring.
You may feel like your teeth are perfectly fine, you may have no pain or sensitivity. But that doesn’t mean you don’t need to see your dentist for a routine check-up. It is much better, and cheaper, to identify and rectify a problem before it escalates.
How often do I need a dental check-up?
The truth is it is different for everyone. Many assume you should visit the dentist for a check-up roughly every six months. But in reality, how often you need to visit the dentist varies from person to person.
We all know someone who has not seen the dentist in years and ‘got away with it’, then, on the other hand, we know a person who is always needing dental work done.
It is all based on individual recommendation. After each visit, your dentist will let you know when you should come for your next check-up. They will base this on an analysis of your oral health and future risk of problems. On average, the time between dental check-up scan range from three to 24 months This may change over time as your oral health improves or declines with age.
What happens at your dental visit?
At the dental check-up your dentist will check for cavities. X-rays might be taken to detect cavities between your teeth. The check-up will also include an inspection for plaque and tartar on your teeth. Plaque is a clear, sticky layer of bacteria. If it is not removed, it can harden and become tartar. You cannot remove tartar with brushing and flossing. If plaque and tartar build up on your teeth, they can cause oral diseases.
Next, your gums will be checked. This will be done with a special tool to measure the depth of the spaces between your teeth and gums. With healthy gums, the spaces are shallow. When people have gum disease, the spaces may become deeper.
The check-up should also include a careful examination of your tongue, throat, face, head, and neck. This is to look for any signs of trouble – swelling, redness, or possible signs of cancer.
Your teeth will also be cleaned at your visit. Brushing and flossing help clean the plaque from your teeth, but you cannot remove tartar at home. During the cleaning, your dentist will use special tools to remove tartar.
After your teeth are scaled, they may be polished. In most cases, a gritty paste is used for this. It helps to remove any surface stains on your teeth.
Looking to get booked in for your routine dental check-up, call Ringmer Dental on 01273 813898 today.