Professional dental cleanings are one of the most important preventive procedures. But how often should you really get a dental cleaning? In this article, we address this question and talk about other essential oral hygiene rules.

How Often Should You Really Get a Dental Cleaning?

People with generally healthy teeth and gums are recommended to have a dental cleaning twice a year. However, if you have weak enamel, are prone to cavities, or have gum disease, you are likely to be advised to undergo cleanings every 3 to 4 months.

Why Do You Need Regular Dental Cleanings?

Plaque always accumulates on your teeth, especially in hard-to-reach areas and along the gumline, and if you have teeth alignment issues. Over time, plaque can harden into tartar, which cannot be removed without special dental instruments. Both plaque and tartar are acidic and filled with bacteria. If plaque and tartar are not removed regularly, they weaken the enamel, leading to cavities and gum disease.

Professional dental cleanings help keep your teeth free of plaque and tartar, reducing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease, which both typically require costly treatments. Thus, cleanings not only help you maintain your oral health but also prevent unnecessary future expenditures.

Additionally, during a cleaning, your dentist also checks the condition of each tooth and the gums and can spot potential oral health issues before they become serious. This means, for example, that you can treat a cavity with a small filling rather than later dealing with severe tooth decay and procedures such as root canal therapy and dental crowns.

Do You Need Fluoride Treatments?

Fluoride treatments are an excellent addition to professional cleanings. This preventive procedure helps remineralize your teeth’s enamel, strengthening it and making it more resistant to bacteria. Thus, biyearly professional fluoride treatments reduce the risk of cavities and gum disease.

How to Maintain Good Oral Hygiene Between Professional Cleanings

To ensure that your teeth stay free of plaque and tartar for as long as possible after a professional cleaning, we recommend following these rules:

• Brush your teeth twice a day, after breakfast in the morning and before bed in the evening.
• Spend two full minutes brushing your teeth and make sure you clean well at the back of the mouth and along the gumline.
• Opt for a soft or medium-soft toothbrush that cleans effectively without irritating your gums.
• Use a non-abrasive fluoride toothpaste. Avoid toothpaste with soda, charcoal, or harsh whitening ingredients.
• Floss every evening, making sure to clean each tooth on both sides with the flossing thread. Be careful not to push the thread too far into the gumline to avoid bleeding.
• If traditional flossing is challenging, try special floss threaders or floss picks.
• Add a water flosser as the first step in your evening oral hygiene routine. Remember that it should be used in addition to traditional flossing and brushing, and cannot replace these steps.
• Avoid sugary and acidic foods and beverages, as they can harm tooth enamel, making teeth more prone to cavities.
• Rinse your mouth after meals or water floss if possible.
• Try not to snack frequently throughout the day, but make sure to drink plenty of water to reduce bacteria in the mouth.

Schedule a Dental Cleaning at Baseline Dental

Do not hesitate to make an appointment for a professional cleaning and fluoride treatment with an experienced dentist at Baseline Dental today. We are looking forward to your visit.