8 reasons you shouldn’t avoid the dentist
Modern dental care is all about prevention and comfort.
Jan, 2026
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There are many reasons a person might not visit the dentist. Maybe they think that brushing their teeth is enough to maintain oral health. Maybe they have bad memories of a previous trip. Maybe they don’t have dental coverage. Maybe they just forgot.
But if you are able, it’s important to check in regularly with your friendly neighborhood dentist. Not only do dentists help keep your teeth clean, they can spot oral health problems early, helping you save time and money in the long run. Ideally, both adults and children should visit a dentist every six months, or at least once per year. Someone with oral health issues may have to go more often.
With that in mind, here are eight good reasons to see an oral health care professional.
Written byMichael Gollust.
Medically reviewed byAnn Wendling, MD, MPH.
Sources: American Dental Association. Home Oral Care. August 8 + 9
- American Dental Association. Home Oral Care. August 8, 2024.
- Harvard Health Publishing. Gum disease and the connection to heart disease. October 8, 2024.
- American Heart Association. Gum disease, inflammation, hardened arteries may be linked to stroke risk. February 12, 2020.
- American Diabetes Association. Diabetes and Gum Disease. Accessed November 26, 2024.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Type 2 Diabetes. May 15, 2024.
- Mayo Clinic. Oral cancer screening. November 15, 2023.
- Harvard Health Publishing. Drills, needles, and pain, oh my! Coping with dental anxiety. December 18, 2019.
- American Academy of Oral Medicine. Dry Mouth. October 15, 2015.
- Cleveland Clinic. Dental Cleaning. January 13, 2023.
- American Dental Association. Whitening. August 16, 2022.
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