Visiting a dentist

To keep your teeth and gums strong and healthy, it’s important to brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, floss regularly and eat a well-balanced diet.

You should also visit your dentist regularly. Ask them how often you need to go – it will depend on things like your age and the condition of your teeth.

Don’t wait for problems to develop. By visiting your dentist regularly for a check-up, you can get problems fixed early and reduce considerable time, cost, stress, pain, swelling and bad breath.

In this section

  • Find out what a dentist does to help keep your teeth and gums healthy, including check-ups, cleaning and treatment. Read more
  • Dental care for children and adolescents is publicly funded, but once you’re over 18, you have to pay for most of your dental care privately. Find out which dental services are publicly funded in New Zealand. Read more
  • If you or a family member has toothache or an injury to your teeth or gums, you’ll need to see a dentist. Find out what to do depending on how serious the problem is, and where to find an after-hours dentist. Read more
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