3 Groups of People Who May Need to Visit the Dentist More Often

You’ve probably heard that you’re supposed to see the dentist for a regular exam and cleaning every 6 months. That frequency works well for most people and allows dentists to catch and treat dental problems before they become more complicated and costly to fix. It’s not frequent enough for some people. Some groups of people may benefit from more frequent dental visits.

Smokers

Pretty much everyone knows that smoking is bad for you. It has a stronger effect on certain areas of your body than it does on others though. Your mouth is one of those areas where it has a strong negative effect. Tobacco products create a stickier plaque that is harder to remove. That makes you more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease. Smokers may benefit from more frequent dentist appointments where they can get their teeth thoroughly cleaned and any issues treated before they get worse.

Pregnant Women

A woman’s body undergoes a lot of changes during pregnancy. Salivary acidity is one such change. Between that and an increase in the quantity of food consumed, it’s easy to have excess sugar in the saliva. That increases your risk of cavities and gingivitis. There’s also a link between gum disease and premature birth. If you are pregnant and prone to gum disease, seeing the dentist more frequently for treatment could be beneficial.

People Who Are Susceptible to Plaque and Gum Disease

Some people are simply more prone to oral problems like cavities, plaque development, and gum disease. A lot of that may be genetic, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take a proactive approach to your oral health. A higher susceptibility to such issues could mean that seeing your dentist more frequently makes sense. Having your teeth professionally cleaned on a more frequent basis could mean the difference between a mouth full of your natural teeth and needing bridges, crowns, implants, or other solutions for lost teeth.

So how often should you visit the dentist? While the general guidance of every 6 months works pretty well for most, you may do better with more frequent visits if you belong to certain groups of people. If you aren’t sure how often you should see your dentist, ask. Any good dentist will give you a recommendation based on your health and needs, rather than assuming what works for most will work for you.

Are you ready to make your first appointment with South Temple Dental? Click here to learn about our online specials for new patients today!