You can’t do it alone. You can keep your teeth clean by eating well and using good habits most of the time, but there will be certain stains and damage that no amount of brushing and flossing can fix. At some point you’ll need to go to the dentist for a teeth cleaning. It’s like your car: No matter how well you take care of it, you’ll have to bring into the shop at some point after it racks up enough miles. Your teeth aren’t much different.
The question isn’t if you should get your teeth but when and how often. If you’re wondering what the answer is, Imagine Dental can help. Read our primer on how often you should get your teeth cleaned, and if you feel the time is right to get yours clean give us a call.
Twice A Year Rule
The truth is there is no set in stone rule for how frequently you should clean your teeth. How often you need to get them cleaned has a lot to do with your health, your lifestyle and your dental hygiene habits. There is a good rule of thumb for people who have decent oral health and take care of themselves and that’s to get a cleaning every six months. That usually should be good enough to help maintain their teeth’s whiteness and regulate the amount of bacteria and plaque building up in their mouth.
Twice a year may not be enough if you suffer from gum disease. For patients with gum issues it’s recommended they come in every three months for a cleaning. There are several other groups who, due to health issues and other complications, should come in more frequently for cleanings. People who would benefit for frequent cleanings include:
- Diabetics
- Smokers
- Pregnant Women
- Heavy Social Drinkers & Alcoholics
- People with a weak immune system
- People with a history of developing plaque build of cavities
Good Habits
While it’s not a guarantee that you’ll need to get fewer teeth cleanings, staying on track with your dental hygiene is a great way to maintain your oral health. The more often and regularly you keep your teeth the less your dentist will have to do when you go in for a cleaning. You should be brushing and flossing at least twice a day every day. Doing this will keep the surface of your teeth clean and healthy while killing bacteria and eliminating built-up food particles stuck between your teeth. It’s important to be diligent about keeping your mouth clean: Those loose bits of food could attract bacteria, who will feast on them and produce plaque that could in the long run cause gum recession and loss of bone density.
You Are What You Eat
Another important factor in determining how often you need to get a cleaning is your diet. Eat a lot of sugary foods? Drink beverages with a high acidic content? Drink alcohol, coffee or black tea on a regular basis? Eat stringy or sticky foods that can get stuck in your teeth and are hard to remove? These are all things that can damage your teeth by wearing down their enamel and staining them. Sugars in particular can rot away your teeth over time and create cavities if you aren’t careful.
Talk To Your Dentist
To find out the best cleaning schedule you should talk to your dentist. Tell them all about your past medical history, dental and otherwise. Let them know about your diet, whether you smoke or drink regularly and any medications you’re currently taking. Together the two of you can figure out a cleaning schedule that would be tailored to suit your current oral health and lifestyle.
When’s the last time you had a cleaning? Come on down to Imagine Dental and we’ll start your New Year off right with a teeth cleaning. Give us a call at 480-893-7733.
