{"id":89,"date":"2026-11-13T10:42:17","date_gmt":"2026-11-13T16:42:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sydentistry.com\/blog\/?p=89"},"modified":"2026-11-13T10:42:19","modified_gmt":"2026-11-13T16:42:19","slug":"how-often-should-i-get-my-teeth-cleaned","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sydentistry.com\/blog\/how-often-should-i-get-my-teeth-cleaned\/","title":{"rendered":"How Often Should I Get My Teeth Cleaned?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of the most common questions I hear in my office is: \u201cDo I really need to get my teeth cleaned every six months?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many people, the answer is yes, but not necessarily because six months is a magic number. The right cleaning schedule depends on your oral health, your home care, your gum health, and your risk for developing cavities or periodontal disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For patients with straight teeth, healthy gums, no significant gum recession, and excellent home care, meaning brushing twice a day and flossing every day, two professional cleanings per year may be plenty.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

But for some patients, I recommend coming in for a third or even fourth cleaning each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Why would I need more than two cleanings?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest reasons is periodontal disease, or gum disease<\/strong>. And it is much more common than most people realize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the CDC, approximately 42% of adults age 30 and older have some form of periodontitis<\/strong>, with about 8% having severe disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Periodontal disease is the destruction of the tissues that support your teeth\u2014including the gums and the bone around the teeth. Your teeth are held in place by the bone surrounding their roots. When periodontal disease causes that bone to deteriorate, teeth can eventually become loose, develop infections, and, in advanced cases, be lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The frustrating part? Periodontal disease can be incredibly quiet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It often develops slowly over years, so you may not feel anything happening. There may be no pain, no obvious symptoms, and no reason to think anything is wrong\u2014while bone loss is occurring underneath the gums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>What are cleanings actually doing?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every day, bacteria form a sticky film called plaque on your teeth. If plaque isn’t adequately removed, it can harden into calculus, or tartar, which cannot be removed with a toothbrush or floss alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That buildup can trigger inflammation in the gums. Bacteria and their byproducts can then contribute to inflammation and, in susceptible patients, destruction of the tissues and bone supporting the teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professional cleanings are designed to remove the deposits that you simply cannot remove effectively at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think of it as maintenance for the foundation of your smile.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Signs you may need more frequent cleanings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are several things I look for when determining whether someone would benefit from more than two cleanings per year:<\/p>\n\n\n\n