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It depends on your own constitution (some people's teeth and gums are doomed some people's will tolerate a lot of neglect). You just have to eventually figure out where you are in that spectrum.
I say this because dentists lately are getting a lot like veterinarians. Revving up their business, and why not, no government regulations. I have now had two consecutive dentists doing uneeded expensive complex prophys on me and then telling me to come back for another in 4 months. Bee ESS! My teeth are clean as a whistle (I know how to keep them that way for reasons I won't get into here...) and my gums look and feel entirely normal - never bleed not even after a rough brushing. The most revealing thing was the second before last dentist who began proposing doing this and doing that...at tremendous expense, telling me if I don't, this is gonna happen and that is gonna happen. That was 5 years ago and my last 2 checkups (another dentist office) said my teeth were in great shape and quite clean..."keep up the good work!" he added.
It depends on your own constitution (some people's teeth and gums are doomed some people's will tolerate a lot of neglect). You just have to eventually figure out where you are in that spectrum.
I say this because dentists lately are getting a lot like veterinarians. Revving up their business, and why not, no government regulations. I have now had two consecutive dentists doing uneeded expensive complex prophys on me and then telling me to come back for another in 4 months. Bee ESS! My teeth are clean as a whistle (I know how to keep them that way for reasons I won't get into here...) and my gums look and feel entirely normal - never bleed not even after a rough brushing. The most revealing thing was the second before last dentist who began proposing doing this and doing that...at tremendous expense, telling me if I don't, this is gonna happen and that is gonna happen. That was 5 years ago and my last 2 checkups (another dentist office) said my teeth were in great shape and quite clean..."keep up the good work!" he added.
So there ya go.
A healthy dose of skepticism is certainly in order, and perhaps a change of dental offices too, as your cautionary tale illustrates so well. However, it's a mistake in the other direction for people to assume that the recommendation for cleanings every six months is based on padding the earnings of dental offices.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I, for one, don't care to take the chance that I am one of the genetically lucky people who can get by with less frequent cleanings. My continuing dental health is well worth the cost of two cleanings a year. (And no, I am not saying that having two cleanings a year is a guarantee against ever having dental problems. In life there are no absolute guarantees, just good percentage calls.)
If you want to maintain good oral health and prevent tartar to build-up on your teeth then you must go for teeth cleaning every six moths interval. It will also help you to prevent periodontal disease. Few days back when I consulted with a dental hygienist at Prestige Dental Center of Colorado Springs I got a few important tips on some preventive methods of periodontal disease. Teeth cleaning every six months interval was one of them.
If you brush your teeth thoroughly two to three times a day with a soft bristle brush that you renew as often as possible.. there should be no need for a dentist to clean them of plaque.. another thing to try is a coconut rinse.. and you can also make up your own toothpaste with coconute oil and baking soda... much better for your mouth gums and teeth... give it a try... and forget all that money for dentists to kid pretend you might need treatments you dont require.
Do you think it's worth it to have teeth cleanings every six months? Do you really think it can prevent gum disease and other issues? I went in for a teeth cleaning yesterday (it had been a year since my last cleaning). I was told I had early gingivitis and the dental hygienist did a bit deeper cleaning in my gums. She told me that I should come in for a cleaning in four months instead of six months so that she could make sure everything is okay with my gums.
Do you think they will always find something wrong with your teeth and gums no matter how well you take care of your teeth? If you brush, flush and use mouth wash regularly, shouldn't your teeth always be in good shape?
I really think it has to do with the individual. If you were told you had those issues, it may be a good idea that you do go every 6 months as recommended.
I had not gone in about 2-3 years and mine were fine. I didn't have dental insurance or the money to pay the cost of the visit.
When I went, my teeth were in good shape. I brush 2-3 times a day and I floss. Every time I go back, it is the same.
The last time I did have some sensitivity and an old filling from when I was a kid was coming out and I did have an issue there.
Dentists are also checking for oral cancer when you go in as well.
I do not think they will always find something wrong. I have gone in plenty of times and it was just a cleaning. I have also gone in and there were problems. . . because there were.
I personally think it's foolish not to go to the dentist. That small cavity that could have been an easy filling left alone for years can turn into major problems with a lot of pain and money involved to fix. I really think genetics plays a huge part. I know people who brush and floss religiously and still have cavities while others barely brush and don't have any. Just saying no matter how careful you are you could still have dental problems.
A healthy dose of skepticism is certainly in order, and perhaps a change of dental offices too, as your cautionary tale illustrates so well. However, it's a mistake in the other direction for people to assume that the recommendation for cleanings every six months is based on padding the earnings of dental offices.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I, for one, don't care to take the chance that I am one of the genetically lucky people who can get by with less frequent cleanings. My continuing dental health is well worth the cost of two cleanings a year. (And no, I am not saying that having two cleanings a year is a guarantee against ever having dental problems. In life there are no absolute guarantees, just good percentage calls.)
There sure aren't any guarantees like you said. I agree you have to have those teeth cleaned at least once a year (in my case, twice).
I guess my point was (and I neglected to expound on it) is that those $130 "complex prophies" where they dig and dig and dig are not necessarily benign. There was an overagressive dental hygenist at the dentist I went to 10 to 20 years ago. They insisted I had to have a complex prophy 3 or 4 times a year. It turns out I had three periapical abscesses (complete with root canals) during that time period, all of which came on less than a month after one of those "deep cleanings." I quit that place, and have had at least a dozen cleanings and no periapical abscesses (or caries or gum disease) since.
Everybody has a different oral chemistry, and that will reflect the necessity for periodic cleaning. I had my teeth cleaned ten years ago, and it was recommended then that there was a lot of tartar buildup, and I should use an anti-tartar toothpaste. Which I did. A few month ago I was having a wisdom tooth pulled and I asked my dental surgeon if he thought I should get my teeth cleaned, and he said they didn't look too bad. So I guess the anti-tartar toothpaste helped keep that down, which was a principal cause for my teeth needing cleaning.
To me, taking care of my teeth and gums means I will not have to have dentures and avoiding such a fate is high on my list. Dentists have told me there is no reason for most people to lose their teeth if they spend a little time with preventive care.
I know people who haven't been to a dentist in 10+ years without problem. Myself, I go ever 4 months. I have thin enamel and now, with age, weaker teeth. Seems I'm always cracking or chipping something. Often it's really minor and nothing needs to be done. Other times it's big, like some above the gum line decay on a tooth with a really old crown on it. Right now! Boo Hiss.
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