Why Do I Need To Have So Many Cleanings?

Some of us need more attention in order to maintain stable oral health and keep the bacteria levels down. Most Insurance plans cover only 2 cleanings a year but it is not up to them to decide how your teeth and gums are maintained. We measure your gums annually to look for stability or changes over the year. Compare the number of cleanings you need in a year to the average 5,000-mile oil change that most cars need. Depending on how fast it takes to get to 5,000 miles, some cars need more oil changes in a year than others. The same holds for your oral health; if your bacteria levels get high and tartar builds up around your teeth quickly, you need more professional cleanings than the standard 6 month intervals. Your medical health serves as another indicator of how many cleanings you need. Patients who have heart disease, diabetes, infections in organs or who are pregnant require a disease-free mouth in order for the rest of the body to stay healthy, as bacteria in the mouth spread to the rest of the body and prevent healing. Remember, we only get one set of permanent teeth so be true to your teeth or they will be false to you!

Some of us need more attention in order to maintain stable oral health and keep the bacteria levels down. Most Insurance plans cover only 2 cleanings a year but it is not up to them to decide how your teeth and gums are maintained. We measure your gums annually to look for stability or changes over the year. Compare the number of cleanings you need in a year to the average 5,000-mile oil change that most cars need. Depending on how fast it takes to get to 5,000 miles, some cars need more oil changes in a year than others. The same holds for your oral health; if your bacteria levels get high and tartar builds up around your teeth quickly, you need more professional cleanings than the standard 6 month intervals. Your medical health serves as another indicator of how many cleanings you need. Patients who have heart disease, diabetes, infections in organs or who are pregnant require a disease-free mouth in order for the rest of the body to stay healthy, as bacteria in the mouth spread to the rest of the body and prevent healing. Remember, we only get one set of permanent teeth so be true to your teeth or they will be false to you!