Having your teeth cleaned professionally by your local dentist is an important part of your overall oral health care. Having your teeth cleaned doesn’t hurt and is almost always a pleasant experience. Why then, do so many people put off seeing the dentist instead of asking the question, “how often should you have a dental cleaning?”
The answer may lie in some of the mixed messages that get sent about how often you should have your teeth cleaned professionally. The American Dental Association says you need your teeth cleaned at least once a year. Many dental insurances will pay for two cleanings per year. Still, other entities recommend a professional cleaning seasonally. Which is right?
How Many Times a Year Should You Have Your Teeth Cleaned?
Like your dental care plan, there is no one size fits all answer for this question. For most people, having their teeth cleaned once a year will do, but twice a year is better. For some people, especially those with conditions or dental work that need to be monitored, having teeth cleaned every three months is more appropriate.
How Long Can You Go Without a Dental Cleaning?
If you have great oral health care habits and you don’t have any problems, pushing back a scheduled cleaning for six months is not likely to be a big deal. However, if you have any type of underlying issues, you may experience problems. It is best, in this case, to stick to your care plan and meet with your dentist as you are scheduled.
In no case should you ever go beyond two years without seeing a dentist. No matter how healthy you are or how good your habits are, this can give problems time to fester and grow. Having a regular exam and cleaning will allow your local dentist to assess your oral health and catch any problems before they become serious concerns.
Different Types of Dental Cleaning
Depending on the condition of your mouth and teeth and what you are seeing your dentist for, there are different types of dental cleanings that could become necessary. Here are the four most common types of dental cleanings that you may hear about.
Prophylaxis Dental Cleaning
This is the type of dental cleaning that you probably think of when you talk about a regular dental cleaning at your local dentist’s office. This type of cleaning removes plaque and tartar and helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
This is the professional dental cleaning that you should have scheduled twice a year unless otherwise instructed by your dentist.
Scaling and Root Planing
Scaling and root planing are a method of deep oral cleaning used to treat gingivitis and periodontitis. Sometimes this type of cleaning will have to be done over multiple visits or require
local anesthetics depending on the severity of the disease. His method removes plaque, tartar, and bacteria from the teeth even below the gum line. It also helps to stop inflammation.
Periodontal Maintenance
Periodontal maintenance treats gum disease. This is very similar to scaling and root planing, the main difference being the frequency with which it is done in order to stop disease progression.
Gross Debridement
When teeth have not been cared for over a very long period of time or when someone has not visited a dentist in years, sometimes a gross debridement cleaning is necessary. This is an intense deep cleaning to clear away large amounts of plaque and tartar.
When Was Your Last Dental Cleaning?
If it has been more than six months since your last dental cleaning, don’t let it wait! Schedule an appointment with your local dentist, Bella Dental now!