Dentists and oral health professionals recommend that you get your teeth cleaned twice a year (once every six months).  It is, however, important to point out that these semiannual appointments are not just for cleanings.  Regular dental visits also provide you and your dentist to evaluate your dental health and catch potentially dangerous infections and bacteria before more serious illness occurs. 

A tooth cleaning on a semiannual basis is important in making sure that the health of your teeth remains in good condition.  In six month's time, buildup from plaque and bacteria can usually be caught before more serious damage in caused.  For example, the buildup of plaque can form into tartar.  There is no way to remove tartar at home, a dentist or dental hygienist must use special tools to remove the plaque.  In six months, a well maintained mouth cannot build up the amount of plaque and tartar needed to cause irreparable damage to teeth.  Allowing this buildup to go untreated for an extended period of time would result in a need for more dramatic oral intervention and treatment. 

Insurance costs
Even insurance companies recognize the preventative powers of semiannual dentist visits.  Most dental companies who would otherwise only cover about 50 percent of dental work usually cover the entire cost of preventative care.  The insurance company knows that if they provide the patient with an incentive to see the doctor as regularly as necessary, they will have to pay out less in expensive dental repairs down the road.  Dental insurance is different from health insurance in that as the cost and severity of the dental work needed escalates so too do your co-pays.  The more neglectful that you are with your oral health, the more you will have to pay for it out of your own pocket. 

Periodontal and other diseases
In a study done by the ADHA it was found that 75 percent of Americans have periodontal disease and don't even know it.  In its initial stages it is reversible but if left untreated it can lead to oral cancer, heart disease, diabetes, respiratory ailments and pre-mature low birth-weight babies.  The key to this is the phrase, "if left untreated." Semi-annual cleanings are in some way like screenings for any other kind of disease or cancer that you would like to prevent.

Many of the most deadly diseases can result from an infection that started in the mouth and spread to another part of the body.  In most cases the relationship between these diseases and oral health can be treated and a disease, as a result from the mouth, can be successfully treated.  Would you miss an opportunity to be screened and treated for something that could potentially kill you?  Most would agree that however inconvenient and uncomfortable it is to visit the dentist, the consequences of not doing so are far worse. 

First clues of improper cleaning and poor dental care
If you are concerned about your dental health and have experienced any of the below symptoms, you may have reason to worry about periodontal disease.  Seeing your dentist as soon as possible can result in valuable treatment options that can not only save your smile but also your life.

    Swollen/tender gums
    Pus around the teeth and gums
    Tooth loss or loose/separating teeth
    Pain and sensitivity
    Bleeding gums
    A change in the way your teeth fit together (i.e. when you bite down or wear dentures)