The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends visiting a dental professional every six months for a checkup. However, a doctor may advise you to go for dental cleanings and exams near you every three or four months if you are a high-risk patient.
What is a High-Risk Group?
These patients have a high risk of developing cavities or gum disease due to their habits, conditions, and lifestyle. Among them, you may find the following:
- Pregnant women
- Heavy smokers
- People with periodontal disease
- Patients that have had multiple cavities in the last year
- Patients with uncontrolled diabetes
If your dentist considers it correctly, they may suggest you visit them every three months. On the other hand, if you are a low-risk patient, you can make a trip to the dentist every year instead of every six months.
What is a Low-Risk Group?
These patients have excellent oral care, haven’t had any cavities in their last year, and take foods low in sugars. If you are one of them, your dentist may schedule your appointments once a year.
Why are Dental Checkups Important?
You may benefit from our dental exams in Flagstaff because your doctor will monitor your teeth, gums, and other soft tissues, like your tongue and cheeks. They will also perform oral cancer screening for prevention.
An oral cancer screening consists of checking your mouth looking for white or red patches. If your dentist detects any unusual mouth sore, they may recommend further testing.
If you detect any bumps, ensure to tell your dentist for them to evaluate it and see if there is something to concern.
Your dental professional will also take a set of x-rays to detect any issues that they cannot see with the naked eye, such as dental caries between teeth, impacted teeth, and the condition of the jawbone.
What is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease is the infection of the tissues that support your teeth and gums. When you skip brushing and flossing your teeth, the dental plaque builds up (a film containing saliva, bacteria, and food debris). Whenitdoes, the gums inflame (Gingivitis).
Gingivitis is the first stage of periodontitis. It is reversible, and you fix it by keeping up with your oral care habits. If untreated, the plaque hardens and turns into tartar.
If you have tartar buildup, you must visit a dentist near you for professional teeth cleaning. Not doing so may lead to bone recession. Your teeth will lose support and can fall out.
You may benefit from our preventative treatments in our dental clinic in Flagstaff to prevent periodontal disease.
Primary Oral Care Habits
Your dentist will help you along the way, but you must do the work at home. Here are the recommendations to follow to prevent oral issues away:
1. Brush your teeth – You must brush your teeth two times a day for at least two minutes. Use fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush not to harm your teeth and gums.
2. Floss – You must use dental floss, interdental brushes, or water flossers to clean the surfaces between your teeth. The toothbrush does not reach these areas, so you must use these devices to remove dental plaque from there.
3. Avoid sugary foods – Try to reduce the consumption of sugary foods because bacteria react with starchy foods and produce acids that wear away the enamel.
4. Visit your dentist regularly – Keeping up with your dental checkups, as we mentioned before, will help to detect any early signs of a problem, and your dental professional will advise you on the steps to follow.
