How often should you let the dentist clean your teeth? (2024)

How often should you let the dentist clean your teeth?

The inside skinny on cleanings and how often you really need one. A dental cleaning is a procedure that removes dental plaque and tartar from your teeth, both above and below your gums. On average, people with healthy mouths need a cleaning every 9 to 12 months.

We recommend cleaning between your teeth every day, to keep your mouth fresh and healthy. When you first start cleaning between your teeth, your gums may feel a bit sore and might bleed but do not stop because bleeding gums are often a sign of gum inflammation.

How often you get a check-up at the dentist depends on your individual oral health. People with a higher risk of oral diseases should see a dentist every three to six months; people with a low risk should have a check-up one to two years.

Generally, the lower your risk of dental problems, the longer you can wait before your next check-up. So people with good oral health will probably need to attend only once every 12 to 24 months, but those with more problems will need check-ups more often.

Generally, every six months is recommended for dental cleanings. However, your dentist or oral hygienist will advise you on the frequency that is best for you. Some people may need to go for more frequent cleanings than usual if they heavily consume tea, coffee, or wine, regularly smoke, or have a rapid plaque buildup.

Having your teeth cleaned can prevent gum disease, which leads to early tooth loss. Signs of gum disease include bleeding gums, swollen gums, moving teeth and sometimes pain. Oral cancer accounts for approximately 1% of all cancers but because it involves the mouth, it is a nasty disease.

This is probably the reason the toothpaste industry promoted “three-times-a-day” brushing or brushing after every meal. The more you brush your teeth, the better. However, dental experts say that there is no direct correlation between the frequency of brushing your teeth and dental health.

Twice is enough for most people, but three times won't hurt!

We recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day: once in the morning (i.e. around 30 minutes after breakfast), and once before bed! But if you want to go for three, that's no issue, just as long as you don't brush too hard or too soon after eating!

To prevent cavities, you need to remove plaque. To do this, brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once a day. Brushing also stimulates the gums, which helps to keep them healthy and prevent gum disease. Brushing and flossing are the most important things that you can do to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Patients who neglect proper care of their mouths by not regularly seeing a dentist, risk not only getting tooth and gum disease, but they also risk getting diseases and illnesses in other parts of their body. Some major health conditions related to oral health include heart disease, diabetes, stroke and breast cancer.

Why do I need to go to the dentist so often?

You can lower your risk of a dental problem by maintaining good oral hygiene and seeing your dentist on a regular basis. Scaling and cleaning treatments ("dental cleans") often follow a check-up. These treatments remove hardened plaque (calculus) from your teeth and help prevent gum disease.

Regular dental checkups ensure good health

Scheduling a dentist appointment every six months for a checkup is essential to one's overall good health.

Encasing your teeth and helping you chew, bite, and tear your food is your tooth enamel. That's the hardest substance in the human body.

If our dentists don't detect any dental problems or reasons for additional treatments, they recommend you return every six months for routine checkups and cleanings. If you're at higher risk for oral health problems, or if you display any signs of problems, the dentist recommends you return more often.

Dental cleanings are safe and effective. While there aren't any risks or complications, you may experience some temporary side effects, such as teeth sensitivity or sore gums. To manage discomfort, take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen, naproxen or ibuprofen.

Brush twice each day, preferably in the morning after breakfast and before going to bed at night. Ideally, wait around 30 minutes after eating and drinking to brush your teeth. Use a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste. Tilt your toothbrush to a 45-degree angle so that you brush your gums as well.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU VISIT YOUR DENTIST IN SINGAPORE? While this may depend on the condition of your oral cavity and various other factors, we recommend that you visit your dental clinic once every six months. However, if you are predisposed to dental issues, you may need to come in for more frequent consultations.

The difference between the two remedies that solve the yellow tooth problem lies in the different purpose of use. Cleaning the teeth whitens the teeth but also has a curative vocation: it prevents caries, gingivitis, periodontitis. Bleaching, on the other hand, has a more aesthetic nature: for shiny teeth.

The cleaning might cause pain, and sensitivity in the treatment doesn't guarantee reattachment of your gums to the teeth. The cleaning might even cause further gum recession. Pain and sensitivity are familiar side effects after deep cleaning teeth. The risks from this procedure are minimal and last for about a week.

Does teeth cleaning remove bad breath?

A teeth cleaning can help you to get rid of bad breath and plaque buildup. When your teeth have plaque on them, they are at risk for tooth decay. Plaque build up is also one of the biggest causes of bad breath because it harbors smelly bacteria. A teeth cleaning can knock out both of these problems.

It's generally ok to swallow your saliva after using mouthwash as long as you've spat most of the product out. You may also want to rinse with water immediately after using mouthwash especially if it is an especially harsh product.

Leaving residual toothpaste in your mouth can reduce tooth decay. Rinsing with mouthwash immediately after brushing may not be the best for your teeth, even if your mouthwash contains fluoride.

Don't rinse with water straight after toothbrushing

After brushing, spit out any excess toothpaste. Don't rinse your mouth immediately after brushing, as it'll wash away the concentrated fluoride in the remaining toothpaste. Rinsing dilutes it and reduces its preventative effects.

Though good oral hygiene that includes brushing and flossing helps in preventing cavities, you may still get cavities. The reasons can be many, like the spaces between teeth that easily trap food, consuming too much cavity-causing foods and beverages, avoiding regular professional-level cleanings and checkups, etc.