“Ok, everything looks great! We’ll see you again in six months.” Dentists and dental hygienists everywhere repeat these lines at the end of almost every dental office appointment. If you’ve heard this line, you might be wondering why you’ve been told this. Is there something secretly special about having your teeth cleaned every 180 days? In this Metropolitan Dental Care blog, we unpack the origins and truth behind the six-month rule, list specific populations that should visit the dentist more often, and help you arrange a preventive dental office visit in Denver, CO.
The Six-Month Dental Office Visit Rule: Is it a legend or science?
Is the “six-month” rule rooted in legend or science? We like to think that there’s an element of both:
The Legend
Although toothpaste is a modern household staple, it wasn’t always one. In fact, only 7% of Americans had a tube of toothpaste in their medicine cabinets in the early 20th century. In response, Claude Hopkins partnered with Pepsodent toothpaste to launch what became one of the best-known marketing campaigns in history. Soon, celebrities like Clark Gable and Shirley Temple showed their “Pepsodent Smile” and boasted about toothpaste’s health and beauty benefits. After ten years of introduction, Pepsodent jumped up to being in 65% of American households.
After World War II, the original “Pepsodent smile” campaign transformed to “Use Pepsodent every day – see your dentist twice a year.” Thus, the six-month rule was born on their day.
The Science
Even if you brush and floss your teeth twice a day, regular dental office visits are mandatory. Your dental team has undergone training to check for oral health issues that you might not be able to identify on your own. Plus, each member applies specialized tools to target caked-on bacteria that you simply cannot reach with at-home daily care. Although much research is inconclusive about visiting the dentist specifically every six months, there are some benefits to scheduling dental office trips at this rate:
- Many dental insurances value preventative medicine. So, they offer to pay for up to two dental cleanings and exams per year.
- This interval can control tooth decay, periodontal disease, and other oral health issues.
Who should visit the dental office more often?
Indeed, we can admit that a minority of patients hit the genetic lottery with “good teeth” paired with proper hygiene routines. So, this rare combination might warrant getting away with going to the dentist less. (Honestly, it’s better to be safe than sorry and schedule the regular dental office visits.)
On the other hand, some patients require more frequent dentistry visits to maintain their oral health, including:
- People who are prone to plaque accumulation, tooth decay, and gum disease
- Pregnant women
- Smokers
- Diabetics
- People with a weak immune response
Is it time to book your next dental cleaning and exam at Metropolitan Dental Care?
Even though dental cleaning and exam frequency might vary from patient to patient, visiting the dentist at least every six months is wise. Plus, we’d love to catch up with you while optimizing your oral health. If you live near Denver, schedule a preventive dental exam at Metropolitan Dental Care by calling 303-534-2626 or messaging us online. Here, you can speak with your dentist to determine what dental office visit interval is most appropriate for your case.
