How often should you see the dentist, really?

For most adults, a checkup and cleaning every six months is the right rhythm. People with gum disease, many past fillings, braces, implants, diabetes or a smoking habit often need to come every three to four months, and a few people with very healthy mouths can stretch to once a year. Your dentist sets the interval for you after the first visit, based on what she finds rather than a rule.

Why six months?

Plaque hardens into tartar within weeks, and tartar cannot be brushed off. A professional cleaning twice a year removes it before it irritates the gums. Six months is also short enough that a small cavity found at one visit is still small at the next, so it can be fixed with a filling instead of a crown or a root canal.

Who should come more often?

What happens at a checkup?

Your dentist checks each tooth for decay and cracks, checks old fillings and crowns, measures the gums for pockets that signal gum disease, looks at your tongue, cheeks and palate, and feels your jaw joint. X-rays are taken only when needed, usually every one to two years, or sooner if something is suspected.

What happens at a cleaning?

Tartar is removed from above and just below the gum line, usually with an ultrasonic scaler and fine hand instruments, then the teeth are polished. It can feel scratchy, and gums that are inflamed may bleed a little; that bleeding is the reason to come, not a reason to stay away. The cleaning takes about 30 to 45 minutes.

What are the early signs of gum disease?

Gums that bleed when you brush or floss, gums that look red or puffy rather than pale pink and firm, bad breath that does not go away, and gums that seem to be pulling back from the teeth. In its early stage, gingivitis, gum disease is fully reversible with a cleaning and better home care. In its later stage, periodontitis, the bone around the teeth is lost and does not grow back, which is why catching it early matters.

Does it matter if I have no pain?

Yes. Decay and gum disease are painless until they are advanced. Pain is the last symptom, not the first, so a mouth that feels fine can still have problems that are cheap to fix now and expensive later.

How do I keep my mouth healthy between visits?

Brush twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste, clean between your teeth once a day with floss or interdental brushes, limit sugary snacks and drinks between meals, and drink water. If you grind at night, ask about a night guard.

The next step

Ivory Premier in Mandaue City offers checkups, cleanings and general dentistry alongside implants and aesthetic dentistry, so one clinic can look after your whole mouth. Request a consultation.