The Real Reason Behind 6 Month Dental Checkups

You’ve always heard how important it is to go to the dentist every 6 months, but have you ever wondered why?
If you’ve ever avoided the dentist because your teeth are fine or because you don’t want to contribute to the dentist “gimmick,” you may be for an eye-opener.
The American Dental Association recommends that everyone over the age of one year visit the dentist for a cleaning and checkup twice a year- and with good reason.
At each of your dental exams, we check for early signs of oral health problems, some of which have been linked to other serious overall health conditions. Examples include:

  • Dental caries (cavities) is the most widespread childhood disease and contributes to a lifetime of poor oral health.
  • Oral cancer claims 8,000 American lives each year, but can be treated effectively if caught in the early stages.
  • Gum disease increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, osteoporosis, and certain cancers. This debilitating condition afflicts about 80% of Americans, and many don’t even know they have it.

Your dental checkups are like a scheduled preventative maintenance plan for your oral- and overall- health. These dental checkups are the best way to protect and prevent yourself from developing these very serious health problems later in life.
If you’ve gone more than six months between dental visits, call Grinnell St. Dental at (307) 672-7567 to schedule a dental exam and cleaning appointment. We make your dental health our top priority, but we can only do that if you stick to your end of the deal.