How Often Do You Really Need to Go to the Dentist?

So you’re not experiencing any pain, your teeth and gums look fine to you, and your schedule is jammed – not much reason to fit in a dental checkup, right? The truth is that regular cleanings and checkups are super important to your dental and overall health, even when you’re not experiencing any symptoms or issues. Here are three reasons why you should schedule a cleaning and check-up twice per year:

1. Professional cleanings do what your toothbrush and floss can’t.

Dental plaque is an invisible bacteria film that forms and builds up on your teeth and just below the visible edge of your gums. When plaque hardens after a period of time, it becomes tartar. Regular brushing and flossing will help to keep plaque under control, but a professional cleaning is the only way to remove tartar once it forms. Even when you are diligent in brushing and flossing, a professional cleaning is the only way to reach plaque and tartar that has formed below your gumline. That means that even the best toothbrusher out there needs to book regular hygiene appointments to prevent serious issues!

2. Early warning signs of aren’t always obvious.

If you’re not experiencing any symptoms, it’s easy to assume everything is fine – but that’s unfortunately not always the case. Hygiene appointments will prevent the start of some conditions, and our dentists are highly trained and experienced in catching issues you may be missing. Here are a few examples:

• Gum disease and tooth loss. Gum disease is often not painful and without obvious symptoms in the early stages, making it difficult to catch on your own. Gum disease occurs when the plaque and tartar that forms below your gumline is not removed by professional cleanings. Toxins produced by tartar irritate the gums and eventually create pockets of infection that destroy gum tissue over time. The end result of gum disease is not only sore, swollen, discoloured, and bleeding gums, but eventual tooth loss.  
• Heart disease and stroke. When gum disease is left untreated, this chronic infection can lead to bacteria and germs migrating into your blood vessels, which can cause the formation of blood clots that lead to heart disease and stroke.  
• Oral cancer. Early diagnosis of oral cancer is key, and our dentists provide visual oral cancer screenings at every check-up. If you are a smoker, it’s even more important to make time for frequent oral health exams.

3. Regular appointments will likely save you money in the long run.

We know that regular visits to the dentist keep your teeth and gums healthy, and can catch or even prevent major issues down the road. This is important from the perspective of your health, but it’s also a big advantage to your finances. Staying on top of your oral health with regular, less-expensive basic hygiene appointments will likely end up saving you money on costly procedures that have become unavoidable.

If you are paying into dental insurance, the only way to turn that into money well spent is to use it by booking regular appointments. Make sure that you’re informed about your dental insurance plan and what’s covered, and ask questions if you aren’t sure. It’s also important to keep in mind that prevention now is a lot less expensive than addressing serious issues in the future.

We accept all forms of dental insurance, and will happily work with you to figure out how to maximize your coverage. We can also submit your paperwork online right after your appointment for a quick turnaround! Talk to us if you have any questions about insurance, and we’ll do our best to help.

All of this being said, we get that you’re busy and it can be tough to schedule in time to see us. On top of that, some people can find visiting the dentist to be intimidating or uncomfortable. But, the long-term benefits are so important that it’s worth making the time and effort. We have convenient hours to help you fit in a visit, and you can get in touch with us pretty much any way you prefer, including booking online!

See our booking page to get the full details. And if you’re feeling nervous, read more about our clinic and our doctors to help set you at ease. You can even read reviews from our patients on our Facebook page here.