People often wonder why they need to see a dentist regularly, i.e. twice a year. They likely suppose that if they take care of their own teeth by properly brushing and flossing that they could knock the visits down to once a year or even every other year. Dental visits can be expensive, even with insurance! What they often forget is that having to have emergency surgery on an abscessed tooth or other procedures can be even more expensive. Here’s other reasons why they should see a dentist regularly.

According to the American Academy of Periodontology, people who were at high-risk for periodontal disease, such as those who smoke or have diabetes – two things that are fairly prevalent in this country, definitely benefited from twice-a-year visits. There were some that even needed to visit more than twice a year to keep everything under control. These regular visits can allow the staff at the dentist’s office to assess the person’s dental history, gauge risk factors and show preventative measures. X-Rays and other scanning techniques can also reveal what’s going on under the surface, something that you won’t see when you’re at home.

Brushing and flossing your teeth is easy, right? You just need to get each tooth and get whatever food is between your teeth out with the floss. Not necessarily so. Many people don’t know the proper brushing or flossing motion. This is not a case of “something is better than nothing” since improper brushing technique can cause problems down the road. Your hygienist or dentist can show you the proper way to do both… and help you take care of your teeth when you’re at home. After all, your adult teeth won’t grow back if something happens to them.