One question we are often asked in our Birmingham dentist office is, “How often do I need to have a dental checkup?”  To answer that question, generally most adults and children should have a dental checkup and cleaning every six months.  However, under some circumstances we do recommend more frequent checkups.  If you have gum disease, diabetes or are pregnant you are at risk for developing certain medical conditions if you do not maintain good oral hygiene.  Those who use tobacco and alcohol are also at greater risk and may also require more frequent dental checkups.  Our Birmingham dentists can discuss risk factors with you and make recommendations as to how often you should plan to have your regular dental checkups.

In individuals with diabetes their increased levels of glucose in their saliva promote oral bacteria that can lead to gum disease.  Their poor circulation also makes their gum tissue more susceptible to developing infections like gum disease.  In addition, diabetes reduces the body’s resistance to infection.  Since gum disease can not only case painful, bleeding gums, it can also lead to potentially life-threatening conditions such as heart disease and stroke, it’s important to make sure you have regular dental checkups if you have an additional risk factor like diabetes.

During pregnancy women have a higher risk of developing gum disease.  Research indicates that preterm infants are born at a rate much higher to women with some form of gum disease than to those without.  Pregnancy is an important time to schedule a dental checkup with our Birmingham dentist office as one step to ensure that you will deliver a healthy full term baby.

Smokers are much more susceptible to developing gum disease and should keep this in mind when considering when to plan for their next dental checkup.  It is in your best interest to have regular checkups to maintain your oral health.

Good oral hygiene and regular dental checkups are essential in preventing gum disease so we encourage you to make an appointment with our Birmingham dentist office to schedule your checkup today.  Our friendly staff will answer any questions you may have and will be happy to set an appointment time that is convenient for you.

We practice mercury free dentistry here in our Birmingham dentist office and are committed to using only the safest methods to ensure the highest level of patient satisfaction.  Our small, local company takes pride in focusing on individualized care and we receive many compliments from our patients on our cordial, comfortable atmosphere.  We invite you to contact us while we are accepting new patients so we can schedule a dental checkup, cleaning and exam for you.  We look forward to meeting you and your family and to serving your oral health care needs.