How Often Should You Visit the Dentist?

"Every six months" is a good starting point for most people, but it is not a rule written in stone. Your ideal gap between dental visits depends on how healthy your teeth and gums are and how likely problems are to develop.

Who may need more frequent visits

• People with gum disease or a history of it
• Anyone who forms tartar quickly
• Smokers and tobacco chewers
• People with diabetes
• Those with braces, implants or crowns that need monitoring
• Children, whose teeth change quickly

What happens at a check-up

We look at your teeth, gums, tongue and the lining of your mouth, check for early cavities, and clean away plaque and tartar. Early problems are painless and cheap to fix; late ones are neither.

A simple rule

If you have never had a check-up, book one now and let the dentist suggest a schedule. If something hurts, bleeds or feels different, do not wait for the next routine visit.

This article offers general information and does not replace a dental examination.