Though bi-annual dental checkups have become the accepted norm, this figure is not—it may surprise you to learn—based on a history of scientific evidence. In fact, the “twice a year” recommendation owes its existence to advertising; during the 1950’s, a toothpaste company called Pepsodent ran an ad which suggested visiting the dentist twice per year to attain optimal dental health. Because modern medicine was still in its relative infancy then, professionals largely complied with this suggestion as it seemed sufficient to prevent serious dental problems in most people. However, today we know that dental care, like health care, must be […]