Having a thorough, professional cleaning performed by a dental hygienist is an integral part of good oral hygiene.  Experts have recommended that for the majority of people, a regular dental cleaning and check-up be performed every six months or twice a year.  However, depending you your circumstances, you dentist may recommend that you schedule appointments more often. 

You may be considered at greater risk for oral diseases if you use alcohol and tobacco, you have diabetes, you are pregnant, you have periodontal or gum disease, you have poor oral hygiene or you have some other medical condition.  All these are things that your dental professional will take into consideration when deciding how often you need to have an examination and cleaning performed.

Having regular check-ups has many benefits.  Along with brushing and flossing regularly, you will be able to keep your teeth and gums health and strong.  You will also be able to detect any early problems such as gum disease, oral cancer and cavities.   Ten reasons you should visit your dentist every six months are:
1.    To prevent oral cancer: When you go in for your routine check-up, your dentist will perform an evaluation on you in order to determine if you have any problems developing, one of which is oral cancer.  This disease has a high rate of curability if diagnosed and treated early on.
2.    To prevent gum disease: Gum disease includes gingivitis and periodontitis.  These are infections of the gum tissues.  If left untreated, gingivitis will progress into periodontitis which is the loss of bone that keeps your teeth in place.  If diagnosed early, the process can be treated and reversed.  If not, it can at least be treated and controlled. 
3.    To help maintain good physical health: heart attacks and gum disease have been linked to gum disease in some studies which is a direct result of poor oral hygiene.  Having a thorough cleaning performed every six months will help keep your teeth and gums healthy and could possibly reduce your risk of heart disease and strokes.
4.    To keep your natural teeth: gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults.  Regular maintenance of your teeth, which includes semi-annual check-ups, will greatly increase your chances of keeping the teeth you have.
5.    To detect dental problems early on: having an oral evaluation and x-rays taken will give your dentist a very good idea what is going on in your mouth.  They will be able to detect any signs of problems with your teeth and gums.  Doing so will help them to treat them early and prevent painful, expensive problems from developing.  If early signs of cavities, broken fillings and gum disease are left untreated, root canals, gum surgery and loss of teeth could become your only choices. 
6.    To maintain good oral health: your dental professionals will be able to advise you on how to take care of your teeth properly.  If they see inconsistencies with other check-ups, they should be able to help you determine what habits are lacking and help you to re-establish them.
7.    To take advantage of your dental insurance: dental insurance plans usually pay for all or most of preventative check-ups and cleanings every six months.  Take advantage of this or you may have more expensive problems to fix and have to pay out more for them.
8.    To create a treatment plan: if your mouth requires extensive work, you can discuss this with your dentist to determine how long, it will take, how much it will cost, and you can set up a plan to get it all taken care of.
9.    To have a brighter, whiter smile: teeth whitening is becoming popular, simpler, and much more affordable.  Treatments can be performed in the office or you can receive at home treatments to use in between check-ups. 
10.    To take time out of your hectic schedule: many people find the time spent in the sitting room and on a dentist chair to be very relaxing and invigorating.  Use the time to read a little or do some quiet meditating before heading back to the office or home to the kids.

Finally, the best way to maintain good oral health is to visit your dentist on a regular basis.
Keep your options open by not condemning yourself to experiencing advanced, irreversible oral problems.