You know you need to have your teeth cleaned and examined by your local dentist regularly in order to maintain good oral health. However, you might wonder how often regularly actually is.
How Often Should Adults Get Their Teeth Cleaned?
Many dental policies, including most of those through programs like Medicare and Medicaid, will pay for two dental cleanings per year and the American Dental Association recommends one to two cleanings per year. With this recommendation, why do so many people fail to have their teeth cleaned even the bare minimum of once a year?
Of course, we all get busy and procrastinate about getting appointments scheduled. Add to that the confusion about how often you need to have your teeth cleaned and you get the perfect storm for missed appointments.
Is Professional Teeth Cleaning Necessary?
Professional teeth cleaning is absolutely necessary. A professional cleaning deep cleans your mouth and removes bacteria in a way that you can’t do at home with just your toothbrush.
Having a professional cleaning also gives your local dentist the opportunity to examine your mouth on a regular basis to check for any abnormalities or diseases. Catching diseases and damage like cavities early on makes them far easier and less expensive to treat. It can also keep you from losing a tooth!
How Professional Dental Cleaning Helps
There are several different types of dental cleaning that your local dentist may do. The type of cleaning you need will depend on the condition of your mouth at the time you visit the dentist’s office.
Prophylaxis Dental Cleaning
Prophylaxis professional dental cleaning keeps an already well cared for mouth healthy. This type of cleaning will make sure that all tartar and plaque are removed and prevent the development of gum disease, gingivitis, and cavities.
This is what most people call a “regular dental cleaning” that you should be scheduling biannually.
Scaling and Root Planing Cleaning
Scaling and root planing is deeper than the prophylaxis dental cleaning and allows the dentist to clean up under the gums and in the pockets where gingivitis and gum disease can take hold and do the most damage.
Periodontal Cleaning
Periodontal maintenance cleaning is done in much the same way as scaling and root planing but it is done with more frequency. This is because this method is used to treat fast moving gum disease that can advance and damage the teeth and gums very quickly.
Debridement Cleaning
Gross debridement cleaning removes hardened plaque and years of neglect. This type of professional dental cleaning is necessary for someone who has stayed away from the dentist for years or who does not maintain good oral care habits.
This type of cleaning may be more difficult and may also have to be followed up by a prophylaxis dental cleaning just to get the mouth into a stable condition again.
Visit your Local Dentist for a Professional Cleaning
It is important that in between dental checkups you maintain good personal daily habits. You should be brushing at least twice per day and flossing as well. A good mouthwash will provide you with extra protection against bacteria that can cause bad breath and cavities.
Remember, twice per year, schedule an appointment with your local dentist, Dental Group of Beverly Hills, for a professional exam and cleaning.
