How Often Should You Get Your Teeth Cleaned?

How often dental cleaning is needed

Many people grew up hearing that everyone needs a cleaning every six months. So how often dental cleaning is really needed? The honest answer is that it depends. For a lot of people, six months is a sensible schedule. The Canadian Dental Association says an exam every six months suits many people, but also that the right interval depends on you.

The Ontario Dental Association recommends seeing your dentist at least once a year, more often if your oral health, general health or lifestyle call for it. The American Dental Association puts it simply: there is no one-size-fits-all schedule.

What decides your schedule

Your dentist looks at several things when suggesting how often you should come in:

• How well you brush and clean between your teeth
• Whether you've had cavities or gum disease before
• How quickly tartar builds up on your teeth
• Your general health, including conditions such as diabetes
• Habits such as smoking
• Whether your mouth is often dry
• A family history of gum disease or tooth decay

Who may need cleanings more often

A shorter gap between visits is common for people who have been treated for gum disease. Bacteria can settle back into deep pockets, and regular maintenance cleanings help keep the gums stable. People who build tartar quickly, smokers, and people with diabetes may also benefit from more frequent visits.

Braces, bridges, implants and partial dentures add places for plaque to hide, so wearers may need extra help too. Some medicines cause a dry mouth, which raises the risk of decay. Pregnancy can also make gums more likely to bleed, so an extra visit may help during that time. Your dentist will explain the reason behind any shorter interval.

Who may be able to go longer

If your gums are healthy, you build little tartar and you haven't had cavities in years, your dentist may suggest a longer interval. Don't stretch it on your own, though. Gum disease and decay often cause no pain in the early stages, and the cleaning visit is also when your exam happens.

What happens at a cleaning visit

A cleaning is more than a polish. A hygienist or dentist removes plaque and tartar from above and just below the gumline, polishes the teeth to slow new build-up, and checks the gums for bleeding and pockets.

Your dentist then examines your teeth, gums and the rest of your mouth, including a check for signs of oral cancer, and decides whether X-rays are needed. You'll also get advice on daily care that fits your mouth, such as which brush or floss to use and where to focus. Bring up anything you've noticed since your last visit, like bleeding, sensitivity or a sore spot.

Don't let your plan set the schedule

Insurance plans often pay for cleanings on a fixed timetable and limit how much scaling is covered each year. That's a payment rule, not a health rule. The CDA advises against basing your dental care on what your plan covers. If you need more frequent care than your plan pays for, ask your dentist about a predetermination, or about spacing treatment in a way that works for you.

Children, seniors and people with dentures

Children benefit from regular visits from their first year, so problems in baby teeth are caught early. Seniors may need more frequent visits as medicines cause dry mouth or gums recede. The CDA notes that dentures, bridges and implants need regular checks too, to make sure they are clean, working well and fitting properly.

Booking cleanings in Aurora

If you're in Aurora or nearby, our hygienists and dentists will suggest a cleaning schedule based on your gums, your history and your health, and adjust it as things change. Evening hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Saturday hours, can make regular visits easier to fit around work and school.

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