# How often do you go to the dentist? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 25, 2010, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/533785 "2010-03-25T19:12:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hedda\_Rosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hedda_rosa/32/1204_2.png) [@Hedda\_Rosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hedda_Rosa)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/533785/1 "2010-03-25T19:12:01Z")
Title says it all. Me, every year, or 18 months. It usually doesn’t get to be 2 years. I am extra-careful with my teeth in between-times, so I can (sort-of) justify not going too often. How often do you go? ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/533785/2 "2010-03-25T19:46:58Z")
I have adequate dental insurance that covers twice yearly cleanings, once a year X-rays. I go twice a year like clockwork. I still take good care of my teeth - brush twice a day and floss every day! I am 40 years old and have never had a cavity. ---
**Author:** ![Rafe\_Hollister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/fbc32d/32.png) [@Rafe\_Hollister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rafe_Hollister)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/533785/3 "2010-03-25T19:49:00Z")
I have adequate dental insurance that covers twice yearly cleanings, once a year X-rays. I go twice a year like clockwork. I still take good care of my teeth - brush **three times** a day and floss **almost** every day! I am **35** years old and have never had a cavity. (With apologies to Glory. My changes are in bold.) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/533785/4 "2010-03-25T20:26:17Z")
Every 4 months for cleaning, annually for a quick exam. I’ve had my share of cavities in my past, but none recently (my teeth remain in pretty good shape) and my dental insurance is good. ---
**Author:** ![otternell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/533785/5 "2010-03-25T20:43:16Z")
Insurance covers two cleanings a yr, so I use it. there was a stretch for 3 years where I didn’t go, but the good brushing and flossing habits meant just a lot of extra tartar scraping the next time. And that was a great reminder as to why I should go regularly. ---
**Author:** ![sevenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@sevenwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sevenwood)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/533785/6 "2010-03-25T20:50:07Z")
I used to go for cleanings twice a year (paid by the dental insurance), but the dentist now has me going every four months (one of which I have to pay for each year). Something about being 62 and “let’s keep things going well as long as we can”. (I don’t complain because four-month cleanings are a lot easier pain/griefwise than six-month cleanings.) ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/533785/7 "2010-03-25T21:24:18Z")
Twice a year for a clean/check up, unless further work is required. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/533785/8 "2010-03-25T21:43:09Z")
Every 6 months. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/533785/9 "2010-03-25T21:49:29Z")
Every six months, regularly. Except once I had to cancel at the last minute, and ended up going almost a year before rescheduling. But usually I make my next appointment before I leave the office so they’re pretty regular. ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/533785/10 "2010-03-25T21:50:04Z")
Every 6 months. I usually only brush my teeth once a day and rarely floss, but I’ve yet to have a cavity except for one caused by a crooked wisdom tooth. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/533785/11 "2010-03-25T21:59:24Z")
Twice a year, for cleanings and checkup. My cleanings are quick and easy. I brush my teeth twice a day but I think the best habit I ever picked up was using rotapicks on my teeth. I keep them handy and use them instead of flossing. I’ve had my share of cavities in the past and have three crowns; but for the last fifteen years or so things have been stable. ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/533785/12 "2010-03-25T23:13:59Z")
Every 6 months to the regular dentist for cleanings. Every 6 weeks for the past 2 years to the orthodontist for adjustments. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/533785/13 "2010-03-25T23:22:19Z")
Every six months for cleaning, once a year x-rays. I wish I could say this has been my pattern all my life; the early years of neglect effed up my teeth a bit. I brush usually once a day and floss every day. I’ve come to learn that going to the dentist is no big deal if you do it regularly. ---
**Author:** ![MaddyStrut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@MaddyStrut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaddyStrut)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/533785/14 "2010-03-25T23:28:01Z")
Every six months. That’s what my insurance covers. I have a friend who had to go every three months for a while after not having gone for years and getting early gum disease, but that was only until it was cleared up. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/533785/15 "2010-03-26T00:25:49Z")
Every six months for cleaning, and even then the dental asst has to stand on my chest and use a 90 pound jackhammer for an hour to get the plaque off. It’s a genetic thing. My wife could go once a decade and they would use a feather duster on her for 30 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/533785/16 "2010-03-26T00:47:32Z")
I don’t. If I had insurance, I _might_ go more often than never, but not much. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/533785/17 "2010-03-26T01:21:59Z")
Once a year. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/533785/18 "2010-03-26T01:45:54Z")
Every six months, to my orthodontist who also does dental checkups. I get my teeth cleaned and my jaw checked on at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/533785/19 "2010-03-26T03:00:33Z")
I stopped going to the dentist when I was about 21 or so. I went back once when I was in my late 30s because a filling had fallen out and the inside of the tooth decayed to the point where they could have done a root canal, but the tooth would have probably just broken later. I just had them pull the tooth. I hadn’t been to the dentist in close to 20 years by that point, but I had no cavities and no other problems with my teeth. I am in my mid 40s now and haven’t been back since. The only cavities I have ever had were when I was in my teens and I wasn’t taking care of my teeth. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/533785/20 "2010-03-26T03:08:38Z")
Every 6 months for a cleaning and checkup. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-go-to-the-dentist/533785.md?page=2)