While brushing and flossing at home are important elements of keeping your teeth healthy, preventative dentistry doesn’t stop there.

It is a general rule to have your teeth professionally cleaned and examined by a dentist every six months.

Importance of Regular Dental Cleanings

Why every six months? Even with outstanding brushing habits, plaque can still build up in some areas that are difficult to reach. If the plaque is allowed to remain there for an extended period of time, it will calcify into tartar, which can only be removed with a hygienist’s professional tools and technique. Seeing us every six months keeps plaque and tartar build-up to a minimum and offers you a fresh start with perfectly clean, healthy teeth.

Seeing you twice yearly also allows us to keep tabs on your oral health. Certain issues can develop under the radar, without symptoms. If you wait to see the dentist until you experience symptoms, more complex treatment may be required. Identifying problems in their earliest stages allows for more conservative treatment options. Your hygienist is often your first defense against gum disease. Not only will a professional cleaning help prevent gum disease, hygienists are also skilled at identifying the first signs – signs that you are likely to miss.