How often should you really get a cleaning?

Most people grew up hearing that you should see the dentist every six months. For many patients that is a sensible rhythm. For some it is more often than necessary, and for others it is not enough. Here is how we think about it.

What a cleaning actually does

Brushing and flossing remove soft plaque. Once plaque hardens into tartar, only a professional cleaning removes it. Tartar sits along and under the gum line, irritates the gums and gives bacteria a place to live. A cleaning resets that, and the exam that goes with it catches small problems while they are still small and cheap to fix.

Who does fine with once or twice a year

If your gums do not bleed, your pocket measurements are shallow, you rarely get cavities and you brush twice a day and floss, a cleaning every six months is usually the right interval. Some patients with excellent home care and no history of gum disease can stretch to once a year. We will tell you if that is you.

Who should come more often

Patients with a history of gum disease usually do best with a cleaning every three to four months. The same is true for smokers, people with diabetes, patients with braces or many crowns and bridges, and anyone who gets cavities regularly despite good brushing. Pregnancy also makes gums more sensitive, and we often suggest an extra visit.

Kids

Children benefit from regular visits as much for the habit as for the cleaning. We see kids from age 3, usually every six months, and we spend part of that time showing them how to brush.

How we set your interval

After your exam we recommend an interval based on your gum measurements, your cavity history and what we see on the X-rays. It is not fixed forever. If your gums improve, we space visits out. If something changes, we bring you in sooner.

The short answer

Twice a year is a good default. Your dentist should adjust it to you, not the other way around. An adult cleaning at Marina Bay Dental is $120, $89 for kids under 12, and most PPO plans cover two cleanings a year.