During the teen years, careful supervision by the dentist and cooperation from teenager are especially necessary. The poor eating habits of many youngsters are reflected in cavity rates, which may be greater during adolescence than in later life. Neglect of proper dental care also happens in the middle years when an often used excuse is the inevitable loss of teeth. After the permanent teeth are established, the dentist should be visited every six months, or at whatever intervals the dentist recommends for an individual patient who need more or less care than the typical patient.
The dentist, just like the family physician, usually maintains, a general health history of each patient to keep track of overall health in addition to dental health. During dental check ups, the dentist screens the patient for signs and symptoms of oral and health problems such as gum disease.
Common symptoms of gum disease may include: bad breath, red, swollen, tender and bleeding gums. Knowledge about the cause, signs, symptoms is the greatest prevention.