How often should you go to the dentist?

Here’s why it’s essential to go to the dentist every six months.

“How often should you go to the dentist?” is a common question we’re asked here at Ora Dental. Your dentist in Toronto wants you to know that you should visit us twice a year because the best way to keep proper dental health is by practicing routine oral hygiene, adequate education, and regular dentist visits! Knowing how often you should go to the dentist, you can take better control of your oral health. And while some patients may need more than two checkups and cleanings a year, the Ora Dental team is here to explain the importance of regular dental exams.

Why you should visit your dentist in Toronto every six months:

Even if you brush and floss your teeth as you should, you still need professional deep cleanings. Our team will remove plaque and tartar buildup that toothbrushes can’t clean off. Regular professional cleanings stop cavities and other dental issues from forming, preventing teeth and bone loss later on.

Diagnostic imaging, aka X-Rays, find problems with your smile and jaw that the bare eye can’t detect. These concerns include bone loss, wisdom teeth, cavities, and more. With proper imaging, we’ll have a clear, overall picture of your mouth so that we can best care for it.

To prevent and treat gum disease, a common problem, we use trained expertise and professional tools to get under the gum line to clean and maintain it to its ideal health. Gum disease must be looked for and monitored to prevent long term issues down the road. With prescription mouth rinses and more, we can stop tooth loss before it happens.

Oral cancer is more common than you might believe! It accounts for roughly three percent of all cancers diagnosed annually in the United States, or about 53,000 new cases each year. Fortunately, oral cancer can be detected at your routine dental visit. With regular dental checkups, you can add quality years to your life with just a few minute-long screenings.

OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS DIAGNOSIS

Did you know that over 120 medical conditions can be diagnosed with a professional oral exam? And many of those are life-threatening. Wow! Since a high percentage of health conditions have an oral component like dry mouth, bad breath, or bleeding gums, dentists can spot them first. These include heart disease, diabetes, cancer, kidney disease, and more—excellent oral health = excellent overall health.

Some should see us more than twice a year.

For your health and safety, you will generally need to see us more than every six months if you:

• Are pregnant
• Have diabetes
• Have gum disease
• Are prone to cavities or plaque buildup
• Smoke or use tobacco products
• Have a weakened immune system

We’ve answered your question: “How often should you go to the dentist?” Now we have one for you! Has it been longer than six months since your last dentist appointment? There’s no need to be embarrassed! Without judgment, we gladly await to help you reclaim your oral health. Schedule your appointment with Ora Dental today to keep your smile healthy, beautiful, and bright!