Quick Summary
For most people with no outstanding dental issues, cleanings twice a year are recommended. If you have been diagnosed with more advanced gum or periodontal disease, your dentist is likely to recommend three to four times a year. Age and certain health conditions also matter: the ADA recommends children start visiting the dentist by age one and have their teeth cleaned at least twice a year.
A professional cleaning performed by an experienced dental hygienist not only makes your teeth feel great; it also protects the health of your smile! Regular professional dental cleanings, along with a proper home oral care routine, are essential to maintaining the health of your teeth and gums.
Keep reading to learn more about teeth cleaning, including how often you should get your teeth cleaned!
What Happens During a Teeth Cleaning?
When you visit Merry Dental for a cleaning, your hygienist will remove any plaque buildup you may have missed while brushing your teeth at home, especially in hard-to-reach areas or between tightly spaced teeth. In addition, your hygienist will identify and eliminate any tartar that has formed on your teeth or at the gum line, as these deposits can lead to tooth decay and gum disease.
If your hygienist detects significant amounts of tartar or signs of gum disease during your cleaning, they may recommend a deep cleaning procedure. This may involve scaling and root planning, which are specialized techniques used to remove stubborn plaque and tartar from below the gum line and smooth out the roots of your teeth.
Scaling is the process of removing plaque and tartar from the tooth’s surface and beneath the gum line using specialized tools. Root planing, on the other hand, involves smoothing the surface of the tooth root to prevent plaque and tartar from sticking to it.
In some cases, your dental professional may recommend the use of Arestin, a topical antibiotic that is applied to the gum pockets after scaling and root planning. This medication helps to kill any remaining bacteria and reduce inflammation in the gum tissue, promoting healing and preventing further damage to your teeth and gums.
How Often Do I Need to Schedule a Dental Cleaning?
How often you should come in for professional dental cleanings depends on several factors. Looking at these factors, your dentist or dental hygienist can recommend a cleaning schedule that is right for you!
Healthy Teeth and Mouth
If you do not have any outstanding dental issues or conditions, it is generally recommended that you schedule dental cleanings twice a year. Bi-annual cleanings allow your hygienist to remove potentially harmful plaque and tartar buildup before they can cause harm to your teeth and gums.
Bi-annual cleaning can also lead to the early detection of dental health care issues, like tooth decay or gingivitis, which is the earliest stage of gum disease. Catching dental health care issues early often leads to less invasive, less costly treatments as well as more effective treatment outcomes.
Advanced Gum or Periodontal Disease
If you have been diagnosed with more advanced gum disease or periodontal disease, it is likely that your dentist will recommend coming in for dental cleanings more frequently, from three to four times a year.
While more advanced gum disease is irreversible, it can be controlled with treatments like quarterly deep dental cleanings.
Age
Sometimes, age can be a factor in how often you should have a dental cleaning. For instance, the ADA recommends that children should start visiting the dentist by the age of one and have their teeth cleaned at least twice a year.
If a child seems to be prone to developing cavities, they may need cleanings more often to protect not just the teeth they have, but the adult teeth they will have one day.
Certain Health Conditions
Certain health conditions can also influence how often you should get your teeth professionally cleaned. If you have diabetes, heart disease, or a weakened immune system, you may be more susceptible to certain oral health problems, which are easier to prevent or control with frequent dental cleanings.
You can protect the health of your teeth and gums and the appearance of your smile by making regular professional dental cleanings a priority!
How often you should have cleanings depends on several factors, but your dentist or hygienist can ensure you know the best dental cleaning schedule for you!
Are you due for your next dental cleaning? Schedule an appointment at Merry Dental in Billerica, MA, today!
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens during a teeth cleaning at Merry Dental?
Your hygienist removes any plaque buildup you may have missed while brushing at home, especially in hard-to-reach areas or between tightly spaced teeth. They also identify and eliminate tartar that has formed on the teeth or at the gum line, as these deposits can lead to tooth decay and gum disease.
Why would a deep cleaning be recommended instead?
If your hygienist detects significant amounts of tartar or signs of gum disease during your cleaning, they may recommend a deep cleaning. This involves scaling, which removes plaque and tartar from the tooth surface and beneath the gum line, and root planing, which smooths the tooth root so plaque and tartar do not stick to it.
What is Arestin?
Arestin is a topical antibiotic that your dental professional may recommend applying to the gum pockets after scaling and root planing. It helps kill remaining bacteria and reduce inflammation in the gum tissue.
Do health conditions change how often I need cleanings?
They can. If you have diabetes, heart disease or a weakened immune system, you may be more susceptible to certain oral health problems, which are easier to prevent or control with more frequent dental cleanings.
Merry Dental, 337 Boston Rd, Billerica, MA 01821. 978-404-5400. Serving Billerica, Lowell, Chelmsford, Tewksbury, Burlington and Bedford.