Rotorua's Sheryn Owen wants to be smiling with her own teeth for as long as possible.
With that in mind, she visits the dentist once a year and reckons regular dental checks during her adult life, as well as daily brushing and flossing, have helped keep her teethand gums healthy.
"I don't want to end up with false teeth."
Mrs Owen is lucky not to be among the 80 per cent of New Zealand adults who suffer from gum disease.
This week is Smile Week during which people are urged to get their teeth checked regularly to prevent gum disease - a bacterial infection of the gums and a major cause of tooth loss.
Rotorua dentist of Pukaki Dental Kathy Hill has seen about 80 patients this year with gum disease. It can be treated if caught early but she has dealt with patients who have needed all their teeth removed.
The disease has been described as a "silent killer"and most people don't know they have it until they see a dentist.
Other ways to prevent gum disease include brushing teeth twice a day for at least two minutes each time and flossing daily.
It was thanks to a check-up that Mrs Owen was told she had a problem with plaque on her teeth, which could have led to gum disease. So she bought an electric toothbrush and her teeth and gums are back in good condition.
The cost of going to the dentist can put some people off but Mrs Owen says the $80 yearly check-up is quite reasonable.
"Do it before it gets out of control. You may have to suffer a bit of pain but it will be worth it in the long run."
Her husband Gwyn also gets regular check-ups although that was not always the case.
"He had a spell where he didn't go for 10 years. He only went because he was biting Disprin to relieve the pain in his teeth."
Mrs Hill said she had seen patients who had not been to a dentist for 10 years but she hoped Smile Week would make people realise the benefits of having their teeth checked at least once a year.
