Dental cleanings are an important part of oral health and maintenance. Having your teeth professionally cleaned by a dentist will remove harmful plaque and tartar that builds up on your teeth over time. Plaque and tartar can cause tooth decay and gum disease when not removed regularly. Brushing and flossing your teeth goes a long way toward removing plaque, but it is not always enough.
How often should you get your teeth cleaned? Here’s what dentists and dental professionals recommend.
Get Your Teeth Cleaned Every 6 Months
Dentists and dental health experts recommend that the average person should go to the dentist every 6 months for teeth cleanings and oral exams. This equates to about twice a year, the ideal time frame for plaque removal and oral health screening. Even if you brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day as your dentist recommends, you may still develop plaque on your teeth. When plaque stays on your teeth for too long it can harden into tartar, which is more difficult to remove and more likely to cause dental and oral health problems.
Benefits of Regular Teeth Cleanings
Getting your teeth cleaned by your dentist every 6 months provides many benefits:
- Prevent tooth decay. Plaque is a combination of food residue and bacteria that clings to your teeth. When it is not removed it begins to eat away at your tooth enamel, which leads to cavities. Regular teeth cleanings can prevent the process of tooth decay.
- Prevent gum disease. Another problem caused by plaque and tartar on the teeth is gum disease. When plaque bacteria stays on the teeth for too long it can lead to an infection of the gum tissue. If gum disease is not treated it can become very serious, leading to tooth loss and even spreading to other parts of your body through your bloodstream. For most patients, teeth cleanings every 6 months can prevent gum disease, but some patients may need more frequent cleanings to keep it at bay.
- Early detection of dental problems. Regular dental cleanings are accompanied by oral exams that are used to identify potential problems with your teeth. X-Rays are typically taken once a year that can detect cavities or issues that may exist below the gums.
- Early detection of oral health concerns. An oral exam can also detect signs of gingivitis or gum disease so that it can be treated. It will typically include an oral cancer screening to identify any signs of abnormalities in the soft tissues of your mouth, throat, jaw, and neck. Early detection significantly improves the outcome of oral cancer.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Routine Dental Cleanings?
Most dental insurance plans cover dental cleanings every 6 months and X-Rays once a year. Preventive care is more widely covered because insurance providers know that dental cleanings and exams prevent more costly procedures. Contact your insurance provider for information on your plan and what dental services are covered. If you don’t have insurance, dental cleanings are still affordable and can be financed if necessary.
Bella Dental Provides Professional Dental Cleanings
Now that you know the importance of regular dental cleanings, it’s time to schedule an appointment at Bella Dental. We are currently accepting new patients and welcome you to our practice. As a family dental practice we provide a wide range of dental services for patients of all ages.
Contact us to schedule an appointment at one of our 3 convenient locations:
Holmdel: 732-739-3070
Brick: 732-477-1335
Oakhurst: 732-531-8533