We understand that having your teeth and gums poked and prodded is not everyone’s idea of a fun way to kill an afternoon. It is, however, a medically necessary process for those who want to maintain good oral health and strong, healthy teeth that will last them a lifetime. 

Unfortunately, a lot of people in the San Marcos area are unclear on exactly how often they need to visit their dental professional and only schedule appointments when a problem has gone unchecked for too long and the pain has become unbearable. 

To help you understand how often you should be clearing an afternoon for the dentist’s chair, listed below are some dental considerations that you should be aware of.

A Typical Patient

A typical dental patient who does not have any risk factors should schedule a routine dental check-up once every six months. This will provide them with a professional tooth cleaning and any necessary maintenance. It is important to schedule an additional appointment, however, if you notice any of the following symptoms in between your regularly scheduled dentist check-ups:

• Pain in one or more of your teeth
• Bleeding from your gums
• A cracked tooth
• You sustain an injury to your teeth and/or gums

Risk Factors

One of the most significant factors that dentists need to consider when determining how frequently their patients need to schedule appointments is their risk factors. Dentists will typically assess the risk factors affiliated with certain types of patients and make sure they adhere to a schedule that is created to keep their gums and teeth in tip-top condition. 

Listed below are some risk factors that might indicate a patient requires more frequent dental visits to make sure that potential dental issues do not go unchecked and get out of hand. 

Pregnancy

Expecting women are much more vulnerable to certain kinds of dental problems. This means that, for the duration of their pregnancy, they should be visiting their dental professional more often.

Diabetes

People who suffer from diabetes are more predisposed to infections caused by the frequent variations in their blood sugar. It is a good idea for them to see their dental professional more frequently to make sure that their gums and teeth are not impacted by their medical condition.

Smokers

People who smoke on a regular basis should also resign themselves to more frequent dental check-ups, cleanings, and maintenance. Smokers are very vulnerable to tooth and gum problems that are caused by the toxic chemicals that are found in cigarettes.

San Diego Area Dentistry

At McBride Dental, we want to help you and your family do everything possible to have and preserve healthy teeth and gums. By scheduling regular appointments with your California family dentist and practicing the oral care techniques we teach you, your whole family will easily maintain teeth that are healthy, strong, and effective.

The San Marcos offices of Dr. Michael McBride are staffed with reputable, professional San Diego dentists that are ready to address any concerns you may have regarding common dental procedures, as well as preventative, cosmetic, or restorative dentistry. We also provide sedation dentistry treatments as an option for our patients with severe dental anxiety.

It is our job to help you and your family establish healthy dental habits to make sure that your teeth will always be there when you need them and your smile will always look great.