How Often Should You See a Dentist?

Why a regular check-up matters

Early tooth decay and early gum disease usually do not hurt. By the time a tooth aches, the problem is often larger. A check-up lets a dentist find small cavities, bleeding gums, worn fillings and changes in the mouth before they need more treatment.

Brushing and flossing remove most plaque, but not all of it. Plaque that stays on the teeth hardens into tartar (calculus) within a few days. Tartar cannot be brushed off. Only scaling, done with hand or ultrasonic instruments, removes it.

So, how often?

There is no single number that suits everyone. The NHS in the UK, for example, advises that the gap between visits should be set by the dentist from your oral health, and can range from 3 months to 2 years. In India, many dentists suggest a visit every 6 months, and a yearly one at a minimum.

As a rough guide:

• Every 3 to 4 months: active gum disease, or after gum treatment while it is being stabilised
• Every 6 months: a common interval for most adults and children, and for people with fillings, crowns or a history of cavities
• Every 12 months: low-risk adults with healthy gums, few fillings and good home care
• More often than usual: pregnancy, diabetes, dry mouth, braces, implants, and people who chew tobacco or paan, since all of these change the risk

Ask your dentist what interval they recommend for you and why. It can change with age and health.

What happens at a check-up

A routine visit usually includes:

1. Questions about pain, bleeding, medicines and your health since the last visit.
2. A look at teeth and gums, checking for cavities, gum pockets, loose teeth and worn or cracked fillings.
3. A soft-tissue check of the tongue, cheeks, palate and throat, looking for ulcers, white or red patches and lumps.
4. X-rays when needed. These are not taken at every visit. They are used when the dentist cannot see between teeth or under fillings, or when a problem is suspected.
5. Scaling and polishing if there is plaque or tartar, to clean above and just below the gum line.
6. Advice on brushing, interdental cleaning, diet and tobacco.

Oral cancer screening

India has one of the highest burdens of mouth cancer in the world, strongly linked to chewing tobacco, gutka, areca nut and paan. A dentist who looks at your whole mouth can spot early changes. A mouth ulcer that has not healed in 3 weeks, a white or red patch, or a lump should always be examined, and not wait for the next routine visit. Anyone who uses tobacco in any form benefits from a yearly check at least.

For children

Children should see a dentist by their first birthday or soon after the first tooth appears, and then as often as the dentist advises, commonly every 6 months. Visits help to apply fluoride, check the bite and catch cavities in baby teeth, which spread quickly. See your child's first dental visit for more.

Common reasons people skip visits

• "Nothing hurts." Pain is a late sign. Early cavities and gum disease are quiet.
• "Cleaning loosens teeth." It does not. Scaling removes the tartar that irritates gums. Teeth that seem to loosen after scaling were already being held by tartar and weak gums.
• Fear of pain or of cost. Say so at the visit. Small problems are quicker, and usually less costly, to treat than large ones. See what affects the cost of dental treatment.

Between visits

A check-up is only part of care. Brush twice a day for 2 minutes with a fluoride toothpaste, clean between your teeth once a day, limit sugary snacks to mealtimes and avoid tobacco. The Oral-care guide covers the daily routine in more detail.

If you have not been for years

It is never too late to start. A first visit after a long gap often includes a longer examination, X-rays and a plan in stages. Dentists are used to seeing this, and your first visit is about understanding where things stand, not blame.

If you wear braces, have implants or dentures, or have had gum treatment, ask what schedule applies to you, since these need their own reviews as well as a routine check-up. Keeping the same dentist over the years also helps, because small changes from one visit to the next are easier to notice when the record is complete.