Most people are so used to modern dentistry that they forget all about how much pain and suffering people used to have to deal with because of dental problems. However, these days, people spend more than $160 billion on dental care every year in the United States alone. More than 1.1 million people are employed in the dental industry to help everyone keep their teeth in great condition.
Perhaps the most common thing that dentists do is provide professional teeth cleaning. Of course, it is essential for people to look after their dental cleanings at home. But even the best job of brushing teeth cannot compare to the professional work of a trained dentist.
But how often should people be receiving dental cleanings at the dental office? Read on to learn all about the most important considerations to keep in mind when deciding how often to schedule your dental visits!
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Find the Right Dental Cleaning Frequency for You
The first thing to understand is that there is no one right answer for everyone. When you think about it, this makes a lot of sense. Everyone’s mouth is different.
On top of that, people engage in different lifestyles that affect their dental health in different ways. To figure out the right frequency of teeth cleanings, you need to account for all of these factors.
Do You Maintain Clean Teeth?
The most important factor to track may be how well you stick to a standard cleaning routine for your teeth at home. Most people are familiar with the idea that they should spend about 2 minutes brushing their teeth every time they do so.
Standard recommendations say that people should brush their teeth once in the morning and once at night. On top of that, it is essential to floss. Some people feel like they can get away without flossing.
However, that means that there are whole sections of the mouth that never receive cleaning. Failing to floss means raising the chance that those sections will develop tooth decay and other issues.
On top of that, not flossing can lead to gum disease. So, are you brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing? If so, there is a better chance that you can get by with less frequent dental cleanings.
However, the more you deviate from these standard recommendations, the more often you might need to visit the dentist to shore up any weak points in your mouth health.
Do You See Signs That You Need More Routine Teeth Cleaning?
Of course, we still have to account for individual variation. Some people develop cavities more than others. Some people have robust gums that almost never develop disease even when they receive less attention.
In what category do you fall? The easiest way to answer this question is by looking at any symptoms in your mouth.
Do you have sensitive gums? Do they tend to bleed if you floss them or brush them in a rough way? Do you have any sensitive spots on your teeth?
On top of that, you can also think about how much stress you put on your teeth. Do you tend to grind your teeth? Do you eat sugary foods that lead to more plaque on your teeth?
Depending on the answers to these questions, you might need more or less frequent teeth cleanings at the dentist.
Possible Frequency for Your Dental Exams
So, after all that calculation, how often should you schedule a routine cleaning at the dental office? On average, every 6 months or so is a good frequency for people to get professional teeth cleaning.
If your mouth is displaying more symptoms of oral health problems, you might want to bump that up to one teeth cleaning every 4 months. If you combine that with a lot of sugar consumption or a lack of flossing, then you might even want to bump your teeth cleaning frequency all the way up to once every 3 months.
On the other hand, if you take excellent care of your teeth, you may be able to get by with less frequent cleanings. If your teeth are well-cared for and do not show any signs of damage, you might be able to push your dental cleanings to once every 9 months.
Some people do not like that a schedule of once every 9 months means that they will be visiting the dentist at different times of year. As a result, they sometimes try to go a whole year between cleaning so that they can visit the dentist at the same time every year.
However, this may not work, or not for very long. With such a strategy, it might be a good idea to visit the dentist twice a year every 2 or 3 years.
The Importance of Maintaining Clean Teeth
Many people feel like however they are cleaning their teeth has worked for them so far, even for many years. However, it is important to realize the long-term effects of proper oral care.
Failing to take care of your teeth the right way may not lead to serious problems if you are only 20 or 30 years old. However, failing to invest in dental health when you are younger may lead you to lose your teeth as you get older.
How to Find the Right Dentist for You
To find the right dentist for your situation, you might want to look at online ratings and reviews. They can help you get a sense of the kind of service that each dentist provides.
On top of that, you might want to ask around for recommendations. Someone you know may have gone through a number of dentists before settling on one that they would recommend to you. You can also search for delta dental dentist nearby to find great options a short distance away.
Understand How Often You Should Get a Teeth Cleaning
We hope learning about the right time to get a teeth cleaning has been helpful for you. Many people never stop to think about how often they should schedule their teeth cleanings. As a result, they may end up going more or less often than is ideal for their unique situation.
To learn more about the latest information in health, business, and more, take a look through our other articles!
