A little more than half Australian adults saw a dentist in the past 12 months, usually for a checkup.
But they have told you that you need to take a check and clean Every six months; Perhaps the default of the dental clinic or health insurance is to ask you to close these services twice a year.
Let’s see if this advice is based on evidence or opinion.
Why do you need regular checks and cleaning?
A regular oral health control usually includes a dentist or an oral health professional (dentist, dentist, oral health therapist) who examines teeth, gums and surrounding mouth structures. This helps to detect tooth decay points or gum disease, except for any changes to the soft tissues.
In most cases, you will clean your teeth professionally on the same visit, with “scale and clean”, along with X -rays to identify issues that are not visible to the eye.
Normal brushing with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between teeth (for example, thread) at home cannot reach all surfaces of teeth and gums. Professional cleaning is required to remove the rest of the plate and tartar (calcified dental plate) and the bacteria they contain, causing tooth decay and gum disease.
What does research data say?
Not all surveys are equal: Some types of evidence are more reliable than others.
Systematic Cochrane reviews are the most reliable because they use strict methods to collect and evaluate all available research data on a particular health issue. These revisions consider how strong the evidence is and whether the studies can be affected by prejudice.
For adult oral health exams, a 2020 Cochrane review They found strong indications that the six monthly exams did not provide additional benefit to prevent teeth decomposition or gum bleeding, compared to those whose frequency of checks was based on risk.
Dental professionals who are at risk put the time between dental controls depending on the risk of dental disease.
The review, which examined the data for four years, also found that there was not enough good research to know how different dental control programs influenced the teeth and teeth of children and adolescents.
On the issue of six months of professional cleaning, a 2018 Cochrane Review They found strong indications that regular professional cleaning made little or no difference in gum disease signs (gingivitis or bleeding gums) or plaque levels, compared to adults with less regular professional cleaning.
There has been a slight decrease in tartar levels, but it is not clear whether it makes sense to consumers and dental professionals.
Participants who had six or 12 months cleaners reported that their teeth felt cleaner than those who had not planned cleaning but there was no difference between the groups in quality of life reports.
Based on these revisions, six months of visits and cleaners do not seem to lead to better oral health for adults compared to checks and cleaning based on individual risk.
So can you give up six months of visits?
Regular professional dental checks are great Throughout life, starting with the explosion of the first tooth.
But they all have different oral health needs and risk levels that need to be reflected in the frequency of their controls.
Some people who are at high risk of oral disease should see a dentist more regularly: every six months or even more often – like every three months – to cope with the serious gum disease or tooth wear.
Those with good oral health may only need to visit a dentist every year or two years.
Others may still be willing to pay For six months of checks and cleansing for the peace of mind, despite the lower health risk profile.
How else can I keep my teeth and gums healthy?
Keep your oral health by brushing twice a day with fluorid toothpaste. Elements show that children and adults who brush less than twice a day are high risk of dental decomposition.
Cleaning between your teeth can also help reduce gum problems and dental plate – more than brushing only. You can use the traditional dental thread or a yarn tool. Infrared brushes, which have a tiny head that fits between the teeth, may also be more effective than thread.
For people who do not have manual skill and for children, water flossers can be an effective alternative to traditional thread.
Finally, avoiding sugars Added to food and drinks, as well as sugars that are naturally found in honey, syrups and fruit juices, help protect teeth from dental decomposition.
