An important part of your regular dental routine should be teeth cleaning at least once a year, but preferably twice a year. An appointment every six months helps you avoid more serious issues that can result if you delay dental care.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a dental checkup at least once a year for most people. Dentists usually encourage their patients to visit every six months. Appointments twice a year help you avoid more serious issues that can result if you delay dental care. Also, diligent care habits at home—brushing twice a day for two minutes, flossing at least once a day, and using a fluoride mouthwash—are especially important.
What is Involved in the Cleaning Process?
Step 1: Physical Exam. A dental hygienist, working under the supervision of your dentist, conducts a physical exam of your entire mouth. Using a small mirror, he or she checks for signs of cavities, structural issues, inflamed gums, or other possible concerns to relay to your dentist.
Step 2: Removing Plaque and Tartar. Your dental hygienist uses an instrument called a scaler to scrape and remove plaque and tartar around your gum line and between your teeth.
Step 3: Guided Biofilm Therapy. We begin by applying a disclosing solution to clearly identify areas of biofilm, allowing us to treat precisely where it is needed. Using a gentle warm stream of air, water, and fine powder, we first remove biofilm from the teeth, along the gumline, and between teeth.
Step 4: Expert Flossing. Even if you floss regularly at home, your dental hygienist provides expert flossing to clean between your teeth and locate any potential trouble areas, especially bleeding gums.
Step 5: Application of Fluoride Varnish. Fluoride varnish is applied to clean, biofilm- and tartar-free teeth, where it can be most effective. This smooth, virtually tasteless coating helps protect against cavities and supports enamel strength long after your visit.
The Final Exam by Your Dentist
Once your hygienist is finished with the teeth cleaning process, your dentist completes your visit by fully examining your mouth to determine whether you need additional care beyond cleaning. Depending on what your dentist finds, he or she will recommend a treatment plan for issues such as cavities or problems with your gums, dealing first with the care you need most. Usually, one of your twice-yearly teeth cleaning appointments involves x-rays. Your dentist uses those to look for potential problems with the tooth roots or structural integrity.
Your Part in Good Dental Health
Keeping a consistent schedule of dental visits is essential in maintaining healthy teeth and gums. See your dentist at least once a year, but preferably twice a year, so you can avoid more serious issues that can result if you delay dental care. And most importantly, practice good brushing and flossing habits at home so your follow-up visits will be easier and stress-free.
Oral health—a comprehensive focus on the health of our teeth and gums, mouth, and other orofacial structures—is a part of our general health. We need good oral health to be able to perform basic functions such as eating, talking, and breathing. We tend to take such things for granted, but they are essential for everyday life.
Related Article: How Long Does a Dental Cleaning Take?