To think that adults are supposed to go to the dentist too?

[YourTealBalonz]

It feels like so many people act like the dentist is optional once you hit adulthood, only going when something hurts or skipping years altogether. But surely we’re supposed to still be going regularly?

Isn’t part of being a functioning adult keeping up with this stuff - like check-ups, cleaning, prevention, etc?

Or AIBU and it’s fine to just… not?

I have an nhs dentist so make sure I go regularly to keep my slot! I can see how it may become one of those things you don't get round too if you're not having any problems and have a busy life though.

I eat 2-3 times a day usually. Lunch and dinner and perhaps a snack every so often. But I’m also a baker (so lots of sweet things on offer for those occasional snacks) and drink coffee and diet fizzy drinks a fair amount. I do use interdental brushes and interstitial brushes for the back plus an electric IO. That probably helps.

Personally I believe I just have genetically strong teeth. My sister is the same, she’s 33 and no cavities.

That’s literally NHS prices… extremely cheap. My private dentist is £120 for a check up alone.

This seems to vary hugely. I’m in the south east and my private dentist check up last week was £60, add another £30 if they are thoroughly cleaned or I need X-rays.

I'm 36 and I last went to the dentist about 16 years ago. I have never had a toothache, I just practise good dental hygiene and don't eat sugary snacks or drink sugary drinks all day. I don't see my GP when I feel fine so why would I see a dentist? Especially as getting an NHS one is harder than getting Taylor Swift tickets. I did see a private hygienist once for a clean and it was £90 so I dread to think what a private dentist costs. I have better things to spend my money on.

Oral cancer has poor survival rates compared to breast and prostate because it is often diagnosed late . This is where annual routine checks show their worth and oral cancer is but one of the over 200 conditions that can be picked up on a dental check.

Genetically better diet not teeth! The average U.K. child eats more than 7 times a day , the average U.K. adult 5 to 6 times a day and adults eat or drink twice the recommended daily sugar intake and children three times .

The odd snack is not a problem is what people are doing every day and most people are snacking and drinking too much sugar/starch.

Well you say that but throughout my 20s I was severely bulimic (sister was too), I drank way more alcohol than was healthy (I’m now sober but I wasn’t for a long time) and I binged on sugary snacks and desserts and cereals. So no… my diet wasn’t better than a lot of people’s for a very long time. In fact it was worse.

Still don’t have cavities or any dental issues. So I’d say it was genetic or else I have enchanted teeth.

Six month check ups are a money making scam. You don’t need them that often if your teeth and gums are healthy.

We haven’t been able to access an nhs dentist in over 10 years. Moved and finally have appointments in February. Dreading what they’ll find!