Every six months I quietly trudge to the dentist’s office because I have done it since I was a kid. My teeth are in fairly good health, with only one adult cavity over the years and so its a painless event for me (save for the bleeding gums).
Recently though, I’ve been wondering how important this cleaning is when I have friends who only go every few years and they seem to have similarly healthy teeth and gums. We’re around the same age, give or take 1-2 years, and all have similar oral hygiene habits (brush 2x a day, floss).
So, it really got me thinking. How much does the semi-annual to the dentist actually matter? When did this whole practice start anyway? Who decided that we needed our teeth scaled every six months? I mean, I can feel that my teeth are cleaner afterwards, but other than that, what health benefits does it provide?
