How Often Should You Schedule Dental Cleanings?

A smile is one of the first things we notice about a person. The cleanliness and healthiness of our teeth play a role in our lives, affecting our self-esteem, confidence, and even our health. But how often should you get your teeth professionally cleaned? The answer varies from person to person, depending on their individual dental health.

Importance of Dental Care

Keeping your teeth and gums clean and healthy is a vital aspect of overall health. Good dental care isn’t only about keeping your teeth looking nice–it’s about preventing potentially serious diseases that may begin in your mouth.

1. Good dental health links to overall health: Evidence continually shows that harmful bacteria and inflammation in your mouth link to more significant health problems, including heart disease and stroke. So, don’t just brush and floss to keep your smile bright. Brush and floss for your heart and brain health, too!
2. Prevention is easier than treatment: Regular dental cleanings and check-ups can prevent these problems, as well as provide you with good oral hygiene. Eliminate dental problems before they become serious with the proactive step of seeing a dentist for a **teeth whitening treatment in Ewing, NJ** or a routine dental check-up.
3. Protection from plaque and tartar: At-home brushing and flossing only remove a portion of dental plaque, the sticky, bacteria-filled layer that coats your teeth. Regular dental cleanings remove hardened plaque called tartar, preventing serious issues like cavities and periodontal disease.

Understanding the Dental Cleaning Frequency

People often wonder how often they should have their teeth professionally cleaned. The usual recommendation is every six months, but this varies depending on your personal dental health.

1. Your oral health determines frequency: If you have gum disease or tend to accumulate tartar quickly, you may need dental cleanings more often than twice a year.
2. Your habits influence the need for cleanings: If you smoke, drink red wine or coffee, or consume other teeth-staining substances, you might consider more frequent cleanings to maintain teeth whitening. Other factors include your diet and how well you floss and brush.
3. Your body factors in as well: Being pregnant, having diabetes, or dealing with other health conditions may also mean more frequent cleanings are recommended.

What are the Typical Dental Services?

Regular dental services aim to maintain good dental health by preventing dental problems and treating existing ones. Services vary based on your personal dental health, but most people can expect the basics at their check-ups.

1. Preventive services include routine cleanings. Cleanings rid your mouth of harmful plaque and tartar, preventing damage and decay. Dental health maintenance, like professional dental cleanings, can slow or stop the development of serious oral health issues like gum disease.
2. Diagnostic services are assessments for potential dental issues that could become problematic later. Dentists might perform oral cancer screenings, x-rays, or gum tissue assessments. Detecting problems early can open the door for advanced dental solutions that prevent more serious complications. These services also include regular check-ups, where your dentist might recommend a **wisdom teeth removal** if they diagnose you with impacted wisdom teeth.
3. Restorative services extend to services performed once a problem has been discovered. This can be as simple as a filling for a cavity or as complex as oral surgery for complicated dental problems. Other restorative services can include dental sealants, tooth extraction, implants and dentures, dental scaling and root planing, and orthodontic treatments.

Dental Cleanings Explained

At a basic level, dental cleanings involve removing the plaque and tartar that accumulate on your teeth, cleaning and polishing your teeth, and checking for signs of decay or other problems. Here’s what to expect when visiting a **dentist in Ewing, NJ** for a dental cleaning.

1. Examination: Before your teeth are cleaned, they need to be checked. Your dentist or dental hygienist will look for cavities, signs of disease, and other potential issues before starting the cleaning procedure. Your dentist may use a small mirror or intraoral camera, both of which provide a detailed look at your teeth and gums. An acknowledgment of your oral health needs allows the dentist to provide a comprehensive oral care regimen that suits you best.
2. Plaque and tartar removal: After your examination, the dental cleaning will commence. Dental cleanings involve removing plaque, tartar, and other buildup from your teeth – a process known as scaling. Depending on the amount of tartar built up on your teeth, this process can take a few minutes to over an hour.
3. Polishing: Once your teeth are free of tartar and plaque, they will be cleaned and polished to remove any lasting debris and to make them smooth to protect against harmful bacteria.
4. Flossing: Finally, your teeth will be flossed. Flossing removes any hint of plaque, food, or other debris that might have been missed during the cleaning and polishing. Remember, professionally flossing provides a level of cleanliness that can’t be achieved by simply brushing!

Additional Dental Services

Besides basic oral cleaning, dentists offer a variety of other services. This can range from diagnostic x-rays to developing intensive treatment plans to address more severe oral health problems.

1. Dental X-rays: Generally, dentists recommend getting dental x-rays once a year. They are a crucial part of any dental treatment plan. Not only do they reveal potential cavities, but they can also display potential issues with bone loss or infections in the mouth. Dental x-rays can show impacted teeth, overactive salivary glands, and even some types of tumors.
2. Orthodontic treatments: If your or your child’s teeth aren’t growing in correctly, a dentist may recommend seeing an orthodontist for a treatment like braces. Orthodontic treatments help rectify issues related to teeth alignment, improper bite, and jaw problems.
3. Oral cancer screening: Oral cancer is a serious condition that can often go unnoticed until it’s too late. An oral cancer screening is an integral part of preventive dental care. These screenings are usually quick and painless, and many problems can be detected early, which leads to better treatment outcomes.

Importance of Regular Dental Visits

Visiting your dentist regularly for cleanings is essential to maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Check-ups can help identify issues early on, allowing for simpler and more effective treatment.

1. Preventive dental care: Regular cleanings can greatly reduce your chance of developing tooth decay or gum disease. A quality dental treatment plan that includes routine dental cleanings helps to prevent these issues before they start.
2. Oral health education: Dentists can also provide advice on the most effective methods for brushing your teeth and cleaning in between your teeth (flossing). Oral hygiene advice from your dentist is personalized to your unique mouth and oral health condition.
3. Dental health maintenance: Regular dental check-ups help keep your teeth and gums healthy. Your dentist can give you tips on the best ways to take care of your teeth at home. Additionally, preventive education and treatment can keep you from facing a dental emergency.

Benefits of Regular Dental Cleanings

Regular dental cleanings make a bid to maintain your oral health and keep your smile looking its best. Exploring the most valuable benefits of regular dental cleanings can help us to prioritize them.

1. Prevention of gum disease: Regular dentist visits, which include cleanings and check-ups, can help to prevent gum disease. The dentist removes plaque from your teeth that can lead to this disease. Plus, if early forms of gum disease are found, your dentist can treat it to prevent it from getting worse.
2. Keeping your smile bright: Regular cleanings and check-ups, combined with daily brushing and flossing, can keep your smile looking great. Getting professional teeth whitening services during your visit can also help to keep your smile bright and white.
3. Detecting dental problems early: Regular check-ups and cleanings can allow your dentist to detect any potential problems early, such as cavities, gum disease, or even oral cancer. When these are diagnosed early, treatment is generally simpler and more effective.

Conclusion

To wrap it up, keeping your oral health in check requires routine dental cleanings. While the general guideline is to get a professional cleaning every six months, your dentist will suggest a personal schedule tailored to your specific dental health needs. Taking care of your teeth involves both personal oral hygiene at home and professional cleanings and check-ups. 

Just remember that achieving a healthy smile is a team effort that involves you, your dentist, and your hygienist. So, don’t underestimate the importance of scheduling regular dental cleanings.