smiling-girl-dentist-300x199It’s probably easy to assume that just getting to the dentist once a year is enough to take care of your teeth. It’s not. There are plenty of reasons why dentists recommend getting a regular cleaning every six months, and here are four of those reasons to make it more often than just once a year.

Reason #1: It helps to keep your teeth white.

When you have white teeth, you usually have a much more confident smile. When you smile more frequently, it helps to attract people to you more easily. It’s much more difficult to maintain white teeth if you don’t get a professional cleaning on a regular basis.

Reason #2: Dental problems can develop within a short amount of time.

You might feel as though most dental problems you’ve had in the past developed slowly, such as over the matter course of several years, but they usually begin developing quite quickly. If you’d don’t have your teeth checked on a regular basis, those problems can become quite severe, causing pain, gum disease, and more.

Reason #3: It’s a good reminder about brushing and flossing.

When life gets busy, it’s easy to overlook brushing and flossing properly. When you’re getting ready for a biannual dental visit, you are probably much more inclined to keep brushing and flossing as you should.

Reason #4: It can save you money over time.

Even if you have to pay for those regular cleanings and checkups every six months out of your own pocket, it can help you save a lot of money through the years. By being proactive, your dentist will be able to spot problems as they begin developing, which usually results in much more affordable and less expensive treatments.