The answer varies depending on your gum health and whether you have a history of gum disease. For most patients, our dentist in Farmington Hills, MI, recommends professional teeth cleanings with one of our skilled hygienists every six months.
This schedule allows us to stay a step ahead of gum disease and cavities and provide prompt treatment if either should develop.
Teeth Cleanings and the Goal of Prevention
Teeth cleanings and at-home hygiene are part of preventive dentistry that aims to create healthy conditions in your mouth and minimize your risk for these diseases.
Even if you brush and floss consistently at home, removing all traces of plaque that linger between teeth and at the gumline is impossible. Once plaque sits on your teeth long enough, it hardens into a substance called tartar that only a professional can remove with specialized instruments.
Periodontal Cleanings and Treatment
If you develop gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease, our hygienist will provide a thorough cleaning and work with you to improve your at-home oral hygiene.
Without treatment, gingivitis advances to periodontitis which opens pockets around your teeth. These pockets collect more bacteria that start to attack the tooth’s supporting structures, including bone, which loosens the tooth.
We can’t reverse periodontitis, but we can prevent it from further damaging your teeth with a deep cleaning treatment called scaling and root planing. After this treatment, we will set up a schedule of more frequent, specialized cleanings to keep the disease under control.
Schedule Your Next Teeth Cleaning in Farmington Hills
If it’s been a while since your last dental cleaning and you’re worried you’ll get a lecture, we don’t judge! We’re just happy that you have chosen us to help you get back on track and help you achieve and maintain a healthy smile for life.
Please call our Farmington Hills, MI, dental office at (248) 855-1277 to schedule a convenient teeth cleaning appointment.