Life gets busy. Somewhere between work, commuting and family, your oral health slides down your priority list.
Until one morning, you notice discoloured or stained teeth, leaving you wondering when your last dental cleaning was.
Here’s the thing – if you wish to have a bright smile, you need regular teeth cleaning. Yes, even with all the daily brushing and flossing you do every day.
But how often should you get your teeth cleaned? Should you get it done every 6 months or more frequently? Honestly, it depends on other factors like your oral health.
Why Do I Need Regular Dental Cleanings?
In most cases, dental check-ups and cleans go hand in hand.
When you come in for a routine check-up, we will start with a thorough examination of your mouth. This helps us identify signs of trouble before they snowball into bigger problems.
Following the assessment of your mouth, we will also carry out a dental cleaning. This will help reduce the risk and severity of common problems such as:
How Frequently Should I Get My Teeth Cleaned?
The most anticipated question.
Generally, we’d recommend having your teeth cleaned every 6 months. That usually means having it done when you come in for your dental check-up.
However, this applies mostly to patients who take proper care of their oral health at home. The story is a little different if you fail to do so. In such cases, we may even recommend more frequent visits for check-ups and cleaning.
Let’s say you have gum disease. Then you may need a professional clean every 3 or 4 months. This is because a lack of proper care or cleaning can worsen the situation and cause more severe and complex dental problems.
What Happens During a Routine Cleaning?
How Long Does a Dental Cleaning Take?
Generally, a routine dental cleaning can take anywhere between 30 minutes and 1 hour.
Caring For Your Teeth Between Cleanings
While regular cleans are important, what you do at home matters just as much. So here are some simple and easy ways (which you already know of) to keep your smile healthy.
- Brush your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes.
- Floss your teeth daily to remove food particles and plaque from between your teeth.
- Use an antibacterial mouthwash.
- Eat a healthy and balanced diet that champions fruits, veggies and calcium-rich foods.
- Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. They can stain your teeth and increase the risk of oral cancer.
- Drink plenty of water. Not only does this keep you hydrated, but it also helps keep your mouth clean.
Looking for a dentist to take care of your oral health? Call Ashgrove Dental today.
