Everyday health
Dental checkups: how often, and warning signs not to ignore
How often to see a dentist, what happens at a checkup, daily habits that protect teeth and gums, and the dental symptoms that need prompt or emergency care.
Key takeaways
- Checkup frequency depends on your oral health — from every few months to every two years.
- Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and clean between your teeth daily.
- Facial swelling with fever, or swelling that affects breathing or swallowing, is an emergency.
Oral diseases such as tooth decay and gum disease affect billions of people and are largely preventable. Regular checkups catch problems early, when treatment is simpler and cheaper.
How often should I go?
There is no single rule. Your dentist should recommend an interval based on your oral health and risk — UK NICE guidance suggests between 3 months and 2 years for adults. People with gum disease, frequent decay, diabetes or who smoke often need more frequent visits. Many people with healthy mouths are seen once or twice a year.
What happens at a checkup
- Questions about your health, medicines and any problems
- An examination of teeth, gums, tongue and mouth, including checks for signs of oral cancer
- X-rays if needed
- Cleaning to remove plaque and tartar, often by a dental hygienist
- Advice on brushing, cleaning between teeth, diet and smoking
- A written treatment plan with costs if you need work done
Daily habits that protect your teeth
- Brush twice a day for about two minutes with fluoride toothpaste. Spit out after brushing rather than rinsing, so the fluoride keeps working.
- Clean between your teeth daily with floss or interdental brushes.
- Cut down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks — frequency matters as much as amount.
- Do not smoke or use tobacco, and limit alcohol.
- Replace your toothbrush every three months.
See a dentist soon if you notice
- Bleeding gums when brushing
- Toothache, or sensitivity that lasts
- A broken or loose tooth, or a lost filling
- Bad breath that does not go away
- A mouth ulcer, white or red patch, or lump that lasts more than three weeks
Get emergency care for facial or neck swelling with fever, swelling that affects your breathing, swallowing or eye, heavy bleeding after an extraction that will not stop with pressure, or a serious mouth injury. If an adult tooth is knocked out, hold it by the crown, keep it in milk or saliva and see a dentist immediately — ideally within an hour.
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Sources and further reading
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