Everyone should get a professional dental cleaning twice a year. Beginning from the eruption of your very first baby teeth or first birthday, and continuing through adulthood, dental cleanings should be scheduled every six months. However, some patients may benefit from more regular cleanings, as their dentist recommends.
Regular Dental Cleanings Help Prevent Many Problems with Teeth & Gums
If you practice excellent oral hygiene, brushing at least twice a day and flossing daily, you may wonder why you’d need to see your dentist twice a year. The reason you need regular dental cleanings is that even with perfect oral hygiene habits, you still won’t be able to remove all of the plaque that accumulates between teeth and at the gumline. Plaque is the root cause of virtually dental problems including:
- Tooth decay (cavities, enamel erosion)
- Toothache or Jaw Pain
- Tooth Sensitivity
- Gingivitis (mild gum disease)
- Periodontal Disease (severe gum disease)
- Halitosis (bad breath)
- Tooth Infection (tooth abscess)
- Tooth Loss
In addition to causing dental problems, studies have conclusively linked poor oral health (untreated gum disease) to an increased risk of developing serious chronic health conditions such as:
- Stroke
- Heart Attack
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Osteoporosis
- Respiratory Disease (pneumonia)
- Cancer (kidney, blood, pancreatic)
With so much at stake, it’s crucial for all people to see their dentist at least twice a year for a dental cleaning, and equally important oral evaluation.
Dental Cleanings Include a Complete Oral Health Examination
During your dental cleaning, your dentist will also perform a comprehensive oral health examination and evaluation. Your dentist will be looking for any sign of problems in the mouth, including:
- Excessive wear and tear on the teeth
- Tooth decay
- Changes to soft tissues in the mouth that may need to be tested for oral cancer
- Lesion development
- Lumps or changes indicating problems with the integrity of the jaw bone
- Receding gums
- Inflammation
- Infection
Do I Need to See the Dentist More than Twice a Year?
For most people, a dental cleaning and oral exam every six months is sufficient for maintaining good oral health. Other individuals, particularly those with a history of gum disease, smokers, and those with chronic inflammatory health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or HIV may benefit from more frequent cleanings and oral health examinations.
Likewise, patients who are prone to excess plaque and tartar buildup, or those who deal with bad breath may also benefit from more frequent cleanings.
If your dentist recommends more frequent cleanings, it is because you are at an increased risk of developing oral health problems. It is in your best interest to book dental cleanings and exams as often as your dentist recommends them.
Book a Dental Cleaning in Forty Fort, PA Today
Dr. Todd Paczewski (“Dr. Todd”) provides complete general dentistry, restorative dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and periodontal procedures in Forty Fort, PA. Dr. Todd treats patients of all ages at his technologically advanced dental practice. If you haven’t had a dental cleaning and exam in at least six months, it’s time to book your appointment today. To best serve busy patients, Dr. Todd sees patients until 6:00 pm on Monday and Thursday. He also sees patients on Saturday mornings twice per month. Call 570-287-2500 for more information or to book your appointment.