I was just thinking earlier today, what would actually happen if someone just kinda stopped going to the dentist for a long time? Like, say you brush and floss regularly at home, but you just don't do the whole professional cleaning thing for years. Would your gums really suffer that much, or is it mostly hype from dentists to keep us coming back? Curious if anyone's actually tried this or knows someone who did and how it turned out...
I mean, I get the skepticism about dentists hyping things up—sometimes it does feel like they're just trying to keep their calendars full. But honestly, skipping dentist visits for years isn't exactly risk-free, even if you're a brushing-and-flossing champ.
I went through a phase in my 30s where I didn't see a dentist for about 5 or 6 years. Thought I was doing fine, brushing twice a day, flossing regularly (okay, semi-regularly), and figured I was saving money and hassle. Then one day, bit into a granola bar and cracked a tooth. Went in reluctantly, and turns out I had some tartar buildup under the gumline that brushing alone couldn't handle. Ended up needing a deep cleaning and a crown—ouch, both physically and financially.
So yeah, your gums might seem fine on the surface, but there's stuff going on underneath that you can't always see or feel. Not saying your teeth will fall out overnight or anything dramatic like that, but regular cleanings do catch things early before they become expensive headaches.
Still, everyone's mileage varies. My uncle hasn't been to the dentist in probably 15 years and swears he's fine (though his breath begs to differ...). Guess it's a bit of a gamble—depends how lucky you're feeling!
I hear what you're saying, but honestly, some folks just have tougher teeth than others. My dad went decades without seeing a dentist—I'm talking at least 20 years—and when he finally went in, the dentist practically accused him of cheating somehow because his teeth were so solid. Granted, he probably got lucky genetically...but it does make me wonder if regular visits are always as crucial as they say. Maybe it's partly luck of the draw?
I get your point about genetics playing a big role—some people definitely luck out with stronger teeth. But I'd be careful about generalizing that too much. My aunt skipped dentist visits for about 15 years thinking her teeth were fine, and when she finally went in, she needed multiple root canals and fillings. She brushed regularly and all that, but apparently some issues just aren't visible or painful until they're pretty advanced. So yeah, genetics matter, but regular check-ups still seem like a safer bet overall.
