“Should I have my teeth cleaned more than twice a year?”

I will recommend cleaning every 3 months

Hello, please consult with a dental professional that can help determine your dental needs. If there is a lot of plaque buildup, perhaps there should be changes in your oral hygiene at home like brushing and flossing more.

Thank you for your question.

Plaque buildup is a function of biological processes which we don't need to detail, but is essentially the accretion of your salivary fluids, certain bacteria, certain biochemical elements of your body, and food particle retention. These groups combine to form plaque buildup over time, sort of in an "incubator" type of fashion. As you see in nature, all living things "incubate" (read "form) at a different rate. Some people get plaque buildup immediately after their dental cleaning, while some people get plaque buildup after weeks have gone by. To answer your question directly: The best defense is a good offense, or so goes the saying. Offensively minded, you can opt to brush and floss more than the average bear, so to speak. Not a frequent flosser? Floss more. An average brusher? Brush more. Professionally, you can opt to go to your dental hygienist more than twice a year. Be forewarned, however, that dental insurances only pay for cleanings twice a year at best. Your 3rd, 4th, and more dental cleanings will have be paid for "out of pocket". A tip here: for those extra dental cleanings: ask your dental professional for ONLY a dental cleaning. NO exam, NO x-rays on those 3rd, 4th, or 5th cleanings. That should significantly lower your out-of-pocket expenses. Your dentist will be happy to have his hygienist's chair time filled and her payroll covered, and you'll save $$$ on those extra cleaning appointments. Like I said however, be more aggressive at home to lower plaque buildup between dental visits.

Yes you can get your teeth cleaned more than 2 times in a year. Your dentist or hyginest can help you make that decision. We can clean upto 4 times. Some patients build plaque faster due to the type of saliva they have and so need more frequent cleanings.

I applaud your diligence in getting your check-ups every six months. I would discuss this issue with your dentist. The are several reasons/conditions that cause "material" to accumulate on teeth. Some are related to diet, some to habits, and others due to medical conditions and/or medication. You may have to up your game doing the home care. Talk to your dentist about adding a Water Pic and and a refresher on good brushing technique.

Some people have more build-up than others. Maybe try 3 times a year. Most important is to keep the gums healthy.

That is a very good idea! We recommend 3 to 4 times a year for those who have a lot of plaque buildup.

Hi there,

Plaque builds up if the teeth are not brushed well enough or the type of food consumed allows the build up. Yes, you may need to do hygiene more than twice a year, depends on what your dentist sees in your teeth. I recommend eating lots of greens in your salad and please see your dentist.

Good luck.

Review your brushing and flossing technique first. Then, evaluate plaque build-up. You can try plaque disclosing tablets. If there is still a plaque deposit issue, then yes, you should have them cleaned 3 times a year.

Unless you're defined as a perio patient, where the teeth are cleaned every 3 months, twice a year is fine.

What we would have to do is an examination to see what options would be best for your mouth. You might need a deep cleaning or to come every 3 or 4 months.

Usually a periodontist is the only dentist who would prescribe cleanings or intraoral prophylaxis more often than 2 times per year

If you notice that you accumulate a lot of plaque- it would be a good idea to try and go every 4 months instead of six.

Rich

Yes, you can have your teeth cleaned more than twice a year. Depending on the amount of plaque & tartar buildup and on the gum pocket measurements, your dentist and dental hygienist can determine if you should have your teeth cleaned more frequently. Some people need to have dental cleanings every 3 months or every 4 months instead of every 6 months. Ask your dentist or dental hygienist about it, the next time you have a cleaning.

Dr Annette Mata-Murphy

Getting your teeth cleaned 3 times a year can be helpful if you build up tartar quickly. And/or your gums bleed easily.