Patients who fail to take proper care of their oral health by not visiting the dentist regularly are at risk of developing diseases not only in their teeth and gums, but also in other parts of the body. Heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and breast cancer are some of the major health conditions associated with poor oral hygiene. The longer you postpone your dental appointment, the more time bacteria have to accumulate on your teeth and gums, leading to the formation of an abscess that can cause excruciating pain. The worst-case scenario could occur when the pain starts to throb in the middle of the night.
You may not think you'd wait five years between dentist visits, but it's easy to let half a decade go by without a single cleaning. The health of your mouth depends largely on you, so let's explore what could happen if you postpone visiting the dentist for extended periods of time. Now let's talk about ten years, a full decade since your last dental appointment. When scheduling your appointment, be sure to be honest about when you last visited the dentist.
This will give your dentist and hygienist an idea of what to expect and what tools they need to bring for the appointment. Regular checkups and seeking dental treatment when necessary are essential for better health. Based on x-rays, your dentist will be able to assess your overall oral health and provide you with the necessary treatment recommendations. Visiting the dentist twice a year means detecting cavities early and taking action before they become worse.
Dr. Langone, a board-certified pediatric dentist and director of New York University's Family Health Centers school of dentistry, explains to HelloGiggles that your dentist will want to take x-rays of your teeth and mouth to make sure that no serious problems have occurred in the time since your last visit. After the hygienist has cleaned your teeth, your dentist will carefully examine your mouth for cavities, signs of gum disease, and any other issues that may have arisen. So what happens if you don't go to the dentist for a long period of time? Dentists typically recommend cleaning and general evaluation every six months to remove plaque and tartar, check for cavities, etc. Neglecting proper oral care can have serious consequences on both your physical and mental health.
Regular visits to the dentist are essential for maintaining good oral hygiene and preventing serious health issues from arising. If it has been more than three years since your last dental appointment, it is important that you schedule one as soon as possible.
