How often should the average person go to the dentist? 

ANSWER...
Twice a year is the best option to get your scaling, fillings, extractions done. This actually saves your money from being drained into costly painful procedures like RCT.

If you are under orthodontic treatment ( For malaligned teeth), you need to visit your dentist more frequently according to his instructions.

And if you feel any discomfort in your oral cavity for any reason, don't hesitate to visit a dentist any day. =)
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What happens at your dental visit?

ANSWER...
There are 2 parts to a regular dental visit – check up, or examination and the cleaning, or oral prophylaxis.

At the dental check up your dental professional will check for cavities. X-rays might be taken to detect cavities between your teeth. The exam will also include a check for plaque and tartar on your teeth. Plaque is a clear, sticky layer of bacteria. If it is not removed, it can harden and become tartar. You cannot remove tartar with brushing and flossing. If plaque and tartar build up on your teeth, they can cause oral diseases.

Next, your gums will be checked. This will be done with a special tool to measure the depth of the spaces between your teeth and gums. With healthy gums, the spaces are shallow. When people have gum disease, the spaces may become deeper.

The check-up should also include a careful examination of your tongue, throat, face, head, and neck. This is to look for any signs of trouble - swelling, redness, or possible signs of cancer.





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What happens at your dental visit? pt2

ANSWER...
 

Your teeth will also be cleaned at your visit. Brushing and flossing help clean the plaque from your teeth, but you can't remove tartar at home. During the cleaning, your dental professional will use special tools to remove tartar. This is called scaling



After your teeth are scaled, they may be polished. In most cases, a gritty paste is used for this. It helps to remove any surface stains on your teeth. The final step is flossing. Your dental professional will use floss to make sure the areas between your teeth are clean.

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What you should do between each dental visit 

ANSWER...
Be sure to take care of your teeth and gums between regular dental visits. Plaque is always forming on your teeth, but you can manage it by brushing and flossing regularly. Here are some tips for good oral care at home.

Brush your teeth at least twice a day. Be sure to use a toothpaste that contains fluoride.
Floss daily.
Use a mouthwash to help control plaque bacteria. This will also help to keep your breath fresh.

http://Dentalcare.com 

source: Quora

What causes bad breath?

ANSWER...
A number of things can cause bad breath  ranging from sore throats to food and more seriously infection of gums/air passages.  

It is best to visit a dentist to confirmt he source of bad breath.  Mints and Mouthwash tend to only mask the problem.  Your Dentist will be able to determine a solution to make this prblem go away permanently

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Any best practices when it comes to brushing teeth? 

ANSWER...

Yes!  Hold the brush at a 45 degree angle toward the teeth and gums. Gently press against the gums so the tips of the bristles go between both the gums and teeth. Then apply a few lateral strokes and roll the brush down to sweep the plaque away from the gums and teeth. Repeat this motion 6 to 10 times and move on to the next area - 2 to 3 teeth at a time. If your mouth is full of foam, spit it out and continue brushing.

Remember: Your brushing is completed when you have brushed all the surfaces of your teethl!

On chewing surfaces, short strokes work best to get the plaque out of your teeth's pits and grooves. When brushing the back side of your front teeth, hold your brush vertically to be able to reach the teeth better.


source: Quora