Do You Need More Frequent Dental Cleanings?
When it comes to visiting the dentist regularly, everyone is well aware of the recommendation to visit the dentist every six months for a cleaning and inspection. However, some people may need to visit more often than that. Here are some reasons why this may apply to you.
The Health of Your Gums
The main thing to consider is actually the health of your gums. If you have recently had a deep cleaning performed on your teeth due to the deep gum pockets that you have, it means that you have a problem with the health of your teeth below the gum line. This can cause problems with your gums if ignored, such as gum disease and gingivitis.
More frequent cleaning is not a way for your dentist to get more money out of you but as a concern for your oral health. You do not want to get into a situation where you have bone loss due to an issue with gum disease, and frequent cleaning will prevent the bone from deteriorating more than it already has.
The Level Of Plaque and Tartar Buildup
Some dental patients are simply more prone to having plaque and tartar buildup on their teeth since their last cleaning. This could be due to a variety of factors, which include the type of diet that you have and how much saliva your mouth produces. Your dentist will become familiar with how the buildup looks during your routine cleanings and may make a recommendation for more frequent cleanings if there is a lot of buildup over the past six months.
The Lack Of Home Care
It's possible that your need for more frequent cleanings comes from a lack of care at home. You need to be doing your part when it comes to brushing and flossing every single day. However, sometimes brushing and flossing twice a day is not enough. If you do have problems with plaque and tartar building, you may need to include more home care after lunch in the middle of the day. Anything that can help reduce the plaque that sits on your teeth after meals is going to limit how fast the plaque calcifies and turns into tartar.
These are just a few reasons why you may need more frequent cleanings. Feel free to ask your dentist during your next cleaning to see what they think about coming in more often. They may notice an issue that could benefit from having a professional cleaning every three or four months.