How Often You Need a General Dentistry Appointment for Teeth Cleaning

Visiting a general dentistry practice for cleaning is important for the health of your teeth. But you might be wondering how often you need to have your teeth cleaned. The answer is every six months. Keep reading to learn more about these important visits.

Importance of general dental visits

Regular brushing and flossing can help fight against bad breath, gum disease and tooth decay. There are many benefits from these important steps. However, these steps by themselves cannot prevent dental problems. Regular dental cleanings allow the dentist to examine the patient’s oral health. The deep cleaning is more thorough than a patient can do at home.

Patients who do not like the thought of visiting the dentist are not alone. About 20% of people in America only make a visit when necessary. About 5% to 8% do not visit the dentist at all. However, there are new advances in technology to make this experience more comfortable.

Frequency of visits

According to the American Dental Association, people should go to the dentist twice a year. This includes both children and adults. This will provide them with teeth cleaning, assuming the gums and the teeth are healthy. If the patients have periodontal disease, the ADA recommends visiting the dentist every three months.

This is a gum disease that can severely damage the jawbone and the gums. If it is not treated, the patient may experience tooth loss. Children who might need orthodontic treatment should visit the dentist more often as well. The dentist can tell the patient when the right time is to make another appointment.

Regular cleaning vs. a deep cleaning

The dentist will decide which type of cleaning to give the patient. A patient’s regular cleaning involves cleaning the teeth’s surface. The areas between the teeth and around the gumline will also be cleaned. However, deep cleaning might be used for someone with gum disease. This is also known as scaling and root planing, and it removes bacteria and tartar.

A patient cannot achieve these results by using a toothbrush at home. Even a regular cleaning will not do this much. Having bacteria under the gumline can cause inflammation. The body will try to fight this infection. This causes gum disease to advance.

The patient’s mouth will be numbed for this type of treatment. The dentist might also give the patient an antibiotic for after the procedure. If left untreated, this type of inflammation can cause bone loss or tooth loss. It can be a painful condition.

Choose general dentistry today

The right way to get a healthy smile is by having general dentistry appointments. This can also help keep your teeth white. If you have any concerns about your gums or teeth, now is a good time to ask a dentist near you. That will allow you to take a more active role in achieving a beautiful smile again.

Request an appointment here: https://www.mytotaldentistry.com or call McCarthy Dentistry at (740) 546-5178 for an appointment in our Marietta office.

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