Checkup and Cleaning

How Often Should I Get a Dental Checkup and Cleaning

Visiting your dentist to get a checkup and cleaning for your teeth is essential for maintaining good oral health. In fact, you can’t keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy without routine dental care. It’s important to not wait until you have an issue to schedule your checkup and cleaning. Most dental professionals recommend getting routine care at least every six months.

What will happen at my dental visit?

The first thing the dentist will do will be to examine your teeth thoroughly. He will look for problems, or potential problems. One thing he’ll be looking for is if you have any cavities. He’ll also check to see if there is any plaque or tartar building up on your teeth. Plaque is clear and sticky bacteria that can build up and lead to gum disease.

The dental professional will also check the state of your gums. They will want to see how much space is between your teeth and gums. Healthy gums do not have a lot of space but if the spaces are deeper, it can indicate gum disease.

The other portion of your checkup will be the cleaning of your teeth. Brushing and flossing can help remove plaque from your teeth, but it will not remove tartar. A dental professional uses medical tools to remove any tartar from your teeth. This procedure is called “scaling.”

What about in between office visits?

It’s important to take good care of your mouth in between your regularly scheduled checkup and cleaning appointments. Having good oral hygiene is essential. In between visits, you should brush your teeth at least twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste. It’s also important to floss at least one time each day. You may also use a mouth rinse to keep bacteria at a minimum.