Oral Health: Do You Really Need to Go to the Dentist Every 6 Months?

Taking care of your oral health requires 100% attention. If you want to keep your teeth and gums healthy, you have to observe the right oral hygiene practice. Appropriate oral care requires regular brushing, flossing, eating the right food, and regular visits to the dentist. If you want to learn more about the significance of routine dental appointments, you can consult Dr. Barwin Yee from Dental Studio in Elizabeth Bay, by clicking on the link.

So, do you really need to go to the dentist every 6 months? The answer is yes, and you’ll find out why. Continue reading below..

The Importance of Regular Dental Checkup

Maintaining your oral health should always be your top priority. Keeping your teeth and gums clean all the time can provide tons of health benefits. Not only does it enhance the quality of your smile, but it also helps you by improving your speech and digestion. But before we talk about the perks and benefits, let’s focus first on the right way of oral care. You might be thinking that regular brushing and flossing are enough, but there’s a lot more into visiting your dentist than it appears. So, we prepared exciting facts about the importance of regular dental checkups below.

Here are the typical scenarios of a regular visit to your dentist:

Standard Check: The initial step involves cavities check. Your dentist will look for tooth decay with the help of physical examination or X rays. X rays provide an efficient way of detecting tooth decay, especially for those hard to reach teeth. Tooth decay may not be evident sometimes because of its location in your teeth, so X rays provide better visual results. Plaque and tartar accumulation will also be checked. If plaque buildup is not removed, it will harden and eventually become tartar that may cause tooth decay and other adverse oral health conditions. Next, the health of your gums is checked. Your dentist will be able to determine if they are healthy or receding. This method is an excellent way to prevent tooth sensitivity. Then there will be an examination of your tongue, throat, neck, head, and face. This method is to check for redness, swelling, or possible signs of cancer.

Cleaning: Brushing and flossing at home usually do the trick. However, there are still areas in the mouth that are hard to reach. Your dentist will use special tools to make sure that your teeth and gums will be thoroughly cleaned. The entire process removes plaque and tartar efficiently. The procedure is called scaling. Through scaling, you can prevent tooth decay and other possible oral diseases. 

Polishing: After scaling, the typical method will be polishing. A dental paste will be applied to your teeth to make sure that the surface will be cleaned efficiently. 

Flossing: Flossing is the final step. Your dentist will make sure that the areas in-between your teeth will be free of food or other debris that may lead to oral problems.

Oral Health Aftercare

These are the things that you can do after your dental checkup:

• Brush your teeth at least two times a day
• Use high-quality dental floss
• Rinse with mouthwash (recognised brand)

Follow these steps, and after six months, you can revisit your dentists.

The Benefits of Regular Dental Checkups

Now that you’ve learned about the essential steps during a dental checkup, it’s time to know about the benefits. 

Below is the gist of the perks and benefits that you can achieve:

Prevention of Possible Oral Diseases

The professional diagnosis by dentists can help prevent oral diseases by early detection. Your teeth may not exhibit signs of tooth decay at first glance, but there is always the possibility. X rays and thorough checks can prevent the spread of the bacteria in case that they are present. Dentists will be able to provide the right treatment and aftercare tips.

Professional Advice on Oral Care

Your dentist will evaluate the health of your teeth and gums, and they will recommend the right method of keeping them healthy. Six months is a long time for your teeth to develop some change. For example, discolouration, your dentist can suggest if you need whitening or not. Another is tooth decay. Whether X rays are required or not, your dentist can provide essential tips to keep your teeth and gums healthy. 

Final Note

For us, we highly recommend visiting your dentist every six months. As we made clear above, there are tons of health benefits that you gain from regular visits. Within the six months, there are a lot of possible oral health issues that you can develop, despite regular brushing. That’s why getting the professional evaluation of your dentist plays a significant role. In any circumstance that you feel that your oral health is compromised, we suggest visiting your dentist ASAP for possible treatment or prevention. Do not rely too much on self-medication since it may trigger harmful effects. The best people in the world that can help you keep your oral health are still your dentists.