Why Do I Need to Have My Teeth Cleaned Every 6 Months?

If you brush 3 times a day and floss daily, what is the need to have your teeth cleaned by a hygienist?

Even with great brushing and flossing there are still areas that your toothbrush can't reach. Plaque and tartar can hide in small spaces between the teeth or under your gums that only dental instruments can reach. Tartar is small, hard, rough pieces of buildup that cannot be removed with a tooth brush. Once tartar gets below your gums it acts as sandpaper on your bone rubbing away at your bone level and irritating your gums, which leads to gum disease. Each time you come in for you cleaning your hygienist is removing that tartar keeping your gums and bone healthy. The hygienist and dentist will also be checking for cavities with x-rays, any suspicious cancerous areas in your mouth, and removing and stain you may have developed from coffee, tea, or other staining habits.

So although it is great to have excellent at home dental care, it is still important to see your dentist regularly to clean and check the areas you can't reach at home.