How Often Do You Need a Dental Cleaning?

Scheduling regular visits with your dentist for a thorough teeth cleaning can be an effective way to prevent oral health problems from developing over time. While most dentists recommend making an appointment in their office every six months, there is a wide variety of factors that can influence how often an individual should schedule a cleaning; including age, physical health, and lifestyle.

Besides the squeaky clean feeling and compliments on your smile, there are numerous benefits to visiting the dentist more regularly. While brushing and flossing every day can certainly reduce your risk of developing harmful diseases and bacteria, and they can never replace professional, annual cleanings.

A skilled dentist or hygienist uses professional techniques and tools to tackle hard-to-reach areas of your teeth and gums that can unknowingly harbor bacteria and plaque which can, in turn, will develop into gum disease. Dentists can also identify early signs of cavities and other complications you may have overlooked, helping you save time and remain pain-free.

A dental cleaning is typically much less intensive than a restorative surgery or procedure. The complicated procedures relating to cavities, gum disease, and other oral health issues can take much longer and require more frequent visits than your average cleaning. Even harmful conditions such as gum disease are often much more manageable in its earlier stages. The average dental cleaning cost is also typically much less than a restorative surgery or procedure which makes it a responsible and worthwhile investment.

An alarming number of American adults fail to schedule an annual dentist appointment despite the annual and biannual calls from dentists. It is common for many people to underestimate common oral health complications including toothaches or sore gums because they don’t hurt as much. While these issues may appear minor at first, they can often develop into complex dental concerns that require more frequent dentist visits and intensive hygiene habits at home.

In many cases, seemingly unrelated health issues and lifestyle factors can increase the risk of dental complications including:

It is important to speak with your dentist about these risk factors to determine how often you should schedule a cleaning. Your dentist can also take careful note of the early signs of gum disease which be easily overlooked. These symptoms are often painless which can leave individuals under the impression they can skip a cleaning.

Skipping out on annual visits to the dentist can have even more devastating effects for those who skip out on healthy at-home dental habits. Both your teeth and dentist will thank you for embracing regular brushing and flossing habits between cleanings.

It is especially important for younger children to visit a quality dentist to go over those tough nooks and crannies that are harder to reach.

The best way to take control of your dental health is to set up an appointment with the trained and knowledgeable dentists and hygienists at All Smiles Dentistry. The experienced team of doctors at All Smiles Dentistry can work with you to create an individualized dental health plan to help keep your smile strong and bright. Contact our friendly office today to schedule an oral consultation or dental cleaning for the whole family.

Image Credit: Getty Images/Phoenixns

The post How Often Do You Need a Dental Cleaning? first appeared on All Smiles Dentistry.