If you brush and floss daily and do all the things your dentist tells you to do to take great care of your teeth at home, how often should you get a professional dental cleaning? This is a great question. Here’s what you should know about how often to get a dental cleaning.

Why Dental Cleanings are Important

You may be wondering if you actually need a professional cleaning to begin with if you properly care for your teeth. It’s super important to take good care of your teeth, but that doesn’t negate the need for a professional cleaning by a dental hygienist.

Professional dental cleanings are important because dental hygienists have tools that aren’t available at home and are also trained in how to safely clean difficult to see or reach areas that can be prone to accumulate plaque and tartar. It’s important to get regular professional cleanings to ensure that these potential problem areas don’t turn into cavities or tooth decay. A dental hygienist can also sometimes remove tartar or staining that you can’t remove at home.

How Often are Cleanings Needed?

The answer to the question of how often to get a dental cleaning depends on a number of factors, such as how well you are able to clean your teeth at home, and your age or any underlying conditions or history of conditions that may contribute to your current oral health.

In general, if you ask a dentist how often to get a cleaning, the recommendation is typically around every 6 months for someone with healthy gums and teeth who practices good oral hygiene at home. If you have gum inflammation or periodontitis, the recommendation may be more frequently, such as every 3-4 months.

How Do I Know When I Need a Cleaning?

The best and only way to know for certain when you need a professional dental cleaning or how often to get a dental cleaning is to have your teeth and gums examined by a dentist. Your dentist will likely check your teeth for any signs of decay or softening enamel and may measure the health of your gums around each tooth if there are any signs of gum disease. If you’ve had previous fillings or have dental appliances they will usually check the condition of those as well.

After a thorough exam, your dentist will be able to accurately advise you on how often to get a dental cleaning to maintain your best oral health as well as anything extra you may be able to do at home to ensure that your teeth and gums stay their healthiest between professional cleanings.

Call our Mesa Dental Office to make an appointment with a dentist who may be able to help you find out more about this topic, and improve your oral health.