How Often Should I Get a Dental Cleaning?

One of the best things that you can do to enhance your dental health is to get a dental cleaning. Dental cleanings are usually part of a routine dental checkup. You might be thinking that your teeth are clean enough because you brush and floss every day, but getting them cleaned by a dental professional is very beneficial. The dentist or dental hygienist can get to the hard-to-reach areas in the mouth that you may have missed. How often you should get dental cleaning will depend on different factors. 

 

Frequency of Dental Cleaning

The American Dental Association (ADA) does not give an actual recommendation for the frequency of teeth cleaning. The ADA simply recommends regular cleaning as determined by your dentist. 

 

Some people may be able to make do with an annual dental cleaning, but others require more frequent cleaning. Each individual is different, so the need for teeth cleaning differs from one person to the next. Following a dentist’s recommendation is important. 

 

How Often You Should Get Cleaning

It is important to think about your situation when planning your dental visits. Different factors will help determine when and how often you should visit your dentist for a cleaning. Some of the factors to consider include the condition of the teeth and gums, as well as your oral hygiene habits. 

 

It is also important to think about your propensity to develop plaque. Some people develop plaque faster than others. The food you eat, the condition of your teeth, and hereditary factors will determine how much plaque you accumulate.

 

Most Popular Recommendation

The most widely held opinion among experts is that most people need a professional dental cleaning every six months. Most dentists recommend a twice-a-year dental cleaning for their patients. 

 

Most insurance companies cover two dental cleanings each year. It is believed that six months is the time it takes for plaque to accumulate on the teeth. Plaque-causing bacteria start to form immediately after cleaning. However, some people can do with annual cleaning.

 

Preventing Tooth Loss

The ADA identifies a link between dental cleaning frequency and tooth loss. People who get their teeth cleaned regularly are less likely to experience tooth loss. Some people are genetically predisposed to get dental issues. 

 

High-risk patients need to schedule more frequent dental cleaning than those who are considered low-risk. Patients need to consult their dentist to come up with a dental cleaning schedule that is ideal for their needs.

 

High-Risk Individuals

Several risk factors will make an individual high-risk. If your toothpaste or water does not contain fluoride, you should consider yourself high-risk. Other high-risk individuals include those who do not floss and those who do not brush twice a day. 

 

People who regularly snack on sweets, smokers, and pregnant women should also get a more frequent dental cleaning. If you have several fillings or wear dentures or braces, you need to schedule more dental visits. If you usually have a dry mouth and if you have diabetes, you are at high risk.


 

For more information on dental cleanings, visit Rudell Gary Jacinto, DMD, General and Cosmetic Dentistry, at our office in Los Angeles, California. You can call (323) 405-9428 today to book an appointment.