How often should I have my teeth cleaned? Sharing an article from The Dental Wellness Institute

Today we are sharing a brief article from The Dental Wellness Institute on how often you should have your teeth professionally cleaned by your dentist.

How often should I have my teeth cleaned?

Article #QA100, February, 2005

Question:
“My hygienist keeps telling me I should have my teeth cleaned every two months. But for years I’ve heard that you should go to the dentist every 6 months. What should I believe?” D. Kinsley, Los Angeles, CA.

Answer:
This is a very good question and one, with variations, that I’ve been asked hundreds of times. The simple answer is that you should have your teeth cleaned as often as your hygienist or dentist recommends. The more detailed answer is that it depends on the health of your gums and how committed you are to your oral hygiene program.

For example, if your gums are healthy and you follow a sound oral hygiene program, you may not need to have to have your teeth cleaned every six months, or even every year. I’ve had patients who take such good care of their gums and teeth that they could go two years or more without needing a cleaning. Admittedly, because gum disease is so prevalent, this is an exception. But it is possible. (Even if your teeth do not need cleaning every 6 months, I strongly recommend that everyone go twice a year to be checked for oral cancer and signs of other diseases whose symptoms first appear in the mouth.

Teeth Cleaning Every Month?

On the other hand, if someone has moderate to advanced gum disease and isn’t willing to actively participate in a oral hygiene program, it may be necessary—if he wants any hope of keeping his teeth—to have them cleaned every month. And if he refuses to spend any time taking care of them at home, even having them cleaned every month will not be enough.

There is another scenario that will dictate how often you should have your teeth cleaned—when you’ve discovered that you have gum disease, have made the decision to have it treated, and have committed to a sound home prevention program. In this case, your hygienist may recommend having your teeth cleaned every month or so for the first 3 to 6 months. The actual frequency will depend on the severity of your gum infection and how effective you are at doing your part. There is a big difference between you and the person who is unwilling to commit to home care. In your case, once the gums have healed and the hygienist has determined that you are able to keep your gums healthy, she will recommend that you extend your cleaning appointments to every 3 months or even longer.

How Often Should I Have My Teeth Cleaned: Listen to Your Dental Hygienist

In summary, there are many factors that determine how often you should have your teeth cleaned. As long as long as you have gum disease, there is no doubt that the hygienist is the one best suited to determine how often. She knows how to evaluate the health of your gums and after a few appointments can determine how committed you are to taking care of your oral health.

So while I strongly urge you to let your hygienist be the judge, you should know that how often she will recommend having your teeth cleaned will ultimately be up to you and you alone! Your hygienist can only support you while you are in the dental office. She won’t be following you home and taking care of your gums and teeth between visits—that’s your responsibility. It’s important to remember that treatment is what is done to you; prevention is something that is done by you!

In Health,

Dr. Tom
To view the original article source click here.