How Often Should You Go to the Dentist?

Blog Summary:

How often should you see the dentist? It depends on your oral health. While the standard recommendation is every six months, some people may need more frequent visits, while low-risk individuals might wait longer. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• General Recommendation: Most people should visit the dentist every 6 months for a checkup and cleaning.
• High-Risk Patients (Every 3 Months or Sooner): Those with gum disease, diabetes, weakened immune systems, or tobacco/alcohol use.
• Low-Risk Patients (Up to 2 Years): Some may wait longer, but skipping visits isn’t advised & more frequent checkups with health screenings may help catch dental diseases early, contributing to more favorable health outcomes.
• Preventative Care: Regular checkups help prevent decay, gum disease, and serious conditions like oral cancer.
• At-Home Care: Brush, floss, avoid excess sugar, and use safe oral care products.
• Braces & Orthodontics: Visits every 6-10 weeks + 2-3 cleanings per year recommended.
• Signs You Need a Dentist ASAP: Pain, bleeding gums, dry mouth, trouble eating, jaw issues, or 6+ months since your last visit.

Is there a difference between how often you should get your teeth cleaned versus how often you should go to the dentist for a routine checkup appointment? Not necessarily. In most cases, routine checkups will also include professional teeth cleaning services.

So just how often should you book a routine checkup, then? You may have heard that you should go to the dentist every 3 months, 6 months, or every 12 months. The truth is that all of these recommendations are true depending on the context.

Dentists agree that routine appointments are important, especially for little ones who are still developing. While every dentist offers different advice, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that children 6 months old and up see a dentist every six months.

How Often to Visit the Dentist: 3 vs. 6 vs. 12 Months Guidelines Explained

If the AAPD recommends children see the dentist every six months, is the same true for adults? Not necessarily. The AAPD simply says “At an age determined by patient, parent, and pediatric dentist, refer the patient to a general dentist for continuing oral care.”.

The American Dental Association (ADA), meanwhile, no longer recommends set intervals for dental care, instead stating “There is no one-size-fits-all dental treatment. Some people need to visit the dentist once or twice a year; others may need more visits. You are a unique individual, with a unique smile and unique needs when it comes to keeping your smile healthy.”

So you might be able to skip routine visits, right? Not so fast! While that might seem true on paper, in reality, you’re far better off seeing the dentist at regular intervals than not at all.

Here’s what experts say about how often teeth cleaning and routine oral care appointments should be made:

CDC

“Visit your dentist at least once a year, even if you wear dentures and have lost some or all of your teeth. Your dentist will check your mouth for cancers, oral health problems, and cavities.”

Penn Health

“The short answer to the question “How often should you go to the dentist?” is, for most people, at least once a year, per CDC recommendations. However, many dentists encourage their patients to visit at least every six months. Why? Because twice-yearly appointments give you and your dentist the best advantage in keeping your teeth clean and healthy.”

Also according to Penn Health, many individuals should see a dentist every three months or more. These include people who:

• Have tooth decay and gum disease, or a history of these conditions.
• Use alcohol and tobacco products on a regular basis.
• Have weakened immune systems.
• Have diabetes or other chronic health conditions.
• Are pregnant.

Can I Wait Two Years Between Dentist Visits?

According to one study conducted by the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), some low-risk individuals might be able to safely wait two years between dental checkups.

The study found that “no dental health benefits to 6-monthly check-ups compared to risk-based intervals or 2-yearly check-ups (for people at low-risk)”.

That being said, the study also noted that only about 30% of individuals qualified as “low risk”, meaning chances are you’ll need to see your dentist sooner.

What’s more, the study neither specifically addressed checkups as inclusive of cleanings or exclusive of cleanings, meaning that it’s unclear whether the NIHR recommends different guidelines for how often dental cleanings should be completed.

The takeaway? If in doubt about whether it’s time to see the dentist for a cleaning or checkup, you should always defer to your dentist’s individualized advice and err on the side of caution. Going to the dentist more often is almost never bad. But going to the dentist less often certainly can be.

Why is Routine Dental Care Important?

According to one study on the Effect of Different Frequencies of Dental Visits on Dental Caries and Periodontal Disease, “people who make routine dental visits (routine attenders) have a better self-reported oral health with lower levels of dental caries and fewer teeth missing due to caries than problem-oriented visitors who attend sporadically for dental problems only”.

In other words, while guidelines for just how often to see the dentist may vary based on the individual and their specific health conditions, the evidence is clear: going to the dentist regularly – at the very least once a year – is crucially important.

This is because routine dental appointments are more than just prescriptive, solving existing issues (such as removing plaque via routine dental cleaning). They’re also preventative, helping stop dental diseases from developing further, if at all, catching serious issues like cancer early, and more.

When you add in the link between oral health and overall health, understanding just how impactful stopping the development or progression of dental disease can be toward stopping the development of other health issues, the relative importance of regular preventative dental care only increases.

Don’t Forget to Take Care of Your Teeth & Mouth Daily at Home

Regular visits to the dentist for health evaluations and professional cleanings are important, but regular at-home dental self-care is also crucial. In other words, seeing a dentist is just half the battle. You also need to be doing all that you can to take care of your teeth at home, which means:

• Establishing a daily brushing and flossing routine
• Avoiding excess sugar and eating healthily
• Avoiding tobacco, alcohol, and substances harmful to oral health as much as possible
• Using safe and effective oral care products that are formulated for a healthy mouth pH

How Often Should You Go to the Orthodontist?

For people with braces, seeing an orthodontist – a specialized type of dentist – routinely is also extremely important. As the American Association of Orthodontists notes, most people with braces should see their orthodontist every 6-10 weeks.

This is both so that the orthodontist can evaluate how effective your treatment is progressing and so that they can assess the general health of the teeth and gums. Because braces present added challenges to effectively cleaning the teeth and in between the gums, these regular visits are essential.

How often should you get your teeth cleaned with braces? We recommend teeth cleaning for braces patients at least 2-3 times a year.

12 Signs It’s Time to Make a Dental Appointment

Routine checkups are important, but if any of these 12 things are true, you should make a dental appointment as soon as possible according to the ADA:

• Pain – Tooth, jaw, or facial pain can indicate an issue that needs attention.
• Bleeding or Swollen Gums – Puffy, bleeding gums could signal gum disease.
• Hiding Your Smile Away – Whether due to discoloration, missing teeth, or other concerns, your dentist can help.
• Recent Dental Work – Fillings, crowns, implants, or dentures need regular checkups to stay in top shape.
• Medical Conditions – Diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions can impact your oral health.
• Pregnancy – Hormonal changes during pregnancy can increase the risk of gum disease.
• Trouble Eating – Difficulty chewing or swallowing isn’t normal—see your dentist.
• Dry Mouth – Constant dryness can be a sign of medication side effects or a health issue.
• Tobacco Use – Smoking and chewing tobacco increase the risk of gum disease and oral cancer.
• Jaw Pain or Popping – Clicking, pain, or an uneven bite could indicate TMJ issues.
• Mouth Sores or Spots – Persistent sores or unusual patches need a professional evaluation.
• 6+ Months Since Your Last Checkup – Preventive care is key to avoiding bigger dental problems.

Schedule a Dental Checkup or Teeth Cleaning Today

Make dental care easy for the whole family at The Super Dentists! Schedule your next teeth cleaning at one of our six locations throughout San Diego. Find a location near you now.