how often to get teeth cleaned?

[pinkytoe]

I have been blessed with good dental health and decided long ago not to pay for dental insurance. On average, I get my teeth cleaned about every year and a half but last time I made an appt for a 6 mo interval and that appt is next week. Since I have to pay cash ($110), I am thinking about delaying it another six months. In some ways, it seems like kind of a scam since dental health is so variable. How often do you get your teeth cleaned?

[Float On]

I love my dentist.
He agreed with me that every 6 mts is not needed for everyone.
I get a cleaning every year...or so. Haven't had a cavity since I was 13.
I just saw him yesterday to have him build up a molar that I chipped.
I also refuse X-rays for me and my kids unless he sees a problem or someone has a toothache (but I found that many toothaches are actually sinus pain...not tooth pain).

[goldensmom]

Our insurance pays 100% for 2 cleanings a year so we take advantage of it.

[bunnys]

Every 6 months. My dentist told me that if I don't bacteria begins to build up between my teeth and gums leading to gingivitis--the first step toward gum disease and periodontal surgery.

I have flossed every single day for the past 7 years. Once, about a 2 years ago, I went a year and a half between visits. Despite my really attentive dental hygiene habits I had a lot more tartar and plaque and it took them like 2x as long to clean my teeth. They had to get out this industrial-strength water-powered hydraulic scaler to do the job! Plus, my "pockets" had gotten a lot bigger. After I got the cleaning, within a couple months my "pockets" had shrunk again.

I don't know why you opt for no dental insurance. I pay like $1. per pay period for the cheapie insurance and would pay $11. per pay period for the expensive stuff. My cheapie insurance pays for everything I need with the exception of crowns. And I walk out of the dentist's office every time I go never having paid a dime for my cleanings/visits and any fillings I might need. You should look at those options again...

[pinkytoe]

The dental insurance my employer offers is $27 a month so I take my chances paying cash as needed. The funny thing is I rarely floss and my dentist always says everything looks great - just keep on doing what you're doing.

[creaker]

I should do 2 times a year (my insurance allows 2x/year) - recently I actually did and was amazed how much easier it was.

[Mrs-M]

Bunnys, mentioned an important something Re: teeth-cleaning. If you struggle with or battle with periodontal-disease, I second having your teeth cleaned every 6 months.

[Float On]

Not everyone mouth, teeth, gums, acid levels, tarter/plaque levels are the same and that's why we shouldn't all fit in the same boxes.
I seriously do not build up tarter or plaque at all. When I get mine cleaned once a year sometimes he says I'm really not even close to needing it yet.
I haven't had any dental insurance available that worked out dollar wise. You have a pretty incredible policy bunnys.

[ApatheticNoMore]

I don't have dental insurance, it's not really worth it, of course we dont' have any plans as cheap as bunnys and I've never seen such plans. I go every 6 months. It costs about $100 a cleaning, yes. HOWEVER, I make use of the FSA so it's really only costing me like $65 a visit (the rest would have gone to taxes). I only occasionally have cavities, however they do say stuff builds up and the measure my gum line. I definitely think I should be on the 6 month plan. Really why wait longer, so the cavities if you have them will be bigger? And if you have other dental problems they will be worse as well and that impacts your whole health causes heart disease and so on. In order to save $65 .... The X-rays on the other hand I postpone, they want me to get them every year. Noone needs that many X-rays, I procrastinate to every 2 years, maybe should try to procrastinate more. Also you don't have to get the more extensive x-rays they push, you can just get the minimal ones.

[fidgiegirl]

I'm inclined to say that perhaps it's better to stay on top of things and prevent a lot of build-up, but if you are a person with really good hygiene habits and tend to have less plaque, etc. you could go less often. When I lived in Mexico I went for a cleaning and the dentist thought I was nuts. He took one look and said I didn't need it. So I didn't get one. I think I'm also a person who'd be fine once a year. You're not getting a real definitive answer from this thread! Bummer!

ETA: Realizing I made it sound like if you have to go more often you must be a pig. Totally not how I meant it. DH brushes his teeth just as often as I do and flosses religiously and just simply has more stuff on his teeth at the end of the 6 months that we do. Just how it is. I don't think anyone is a pig. https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRVCm-R06ajMleHk0bnv2X4PRmYzyAIGDKEAebV6ResGnt6HGtGlA

[Sad Eyed Lady]

I try to go every 6 months but sometimes it is a year between visits. I have no dental insurance either, but get a great deal because I go to our local university's dental hygiene clinic. It takes longer, but for $20.00, (it was $12.00 when I started going a few years ago), I get a cleaning, check-up, polishing, fluoride rinse or sealer, plus my bag of "goodies" when I leave ( a new tooth brush, toothpaste, floss etc). This price also includes x-rays when needed, and all work is checked by both an instructor and a dentist. If the dentist sees anything that he thinks needs watching then they put that in my chart, or if he thinks it needs to be seen about he will refer me to see a dentist. They are very appreciative of my continuing to come as they need real live patients to work on and it is a good deal for me as I said. The only two drawbacks is parking on campus is hard to come by, and the amount of time it takes. But if you have the time to spare, it is a great value.

[bunnys]

I think it's so cheap bc my employer pays the majority of it because I am the employee. If I had a spouse or kiddies on the policy as well the price would be much higher.

[iris lily]

I don't have dental insurance. It's costs around $100 for me to have my teeth cleaned and I do that 2X annually. I have perfect teeth, never had a cavity, but don't have good gums. So cleaning is a good thing. Our dentist gives a 10% discount for cash.

[Zoebird]

I like to have mine cleaned 2x year at $125 per go. Dental visits (check ups) I have once a year and that's $85 (includes x-rays).

I just had a tooth filling repaired for $280, and I'm thinking of having all of them replaced in Thailand in a few years. Dentistry in thailand is really good and really inexpensive. And, I get to go to thailand. :)

[heydude]

my insurance will pay for twice a year with complete x-rays. i think that is so over doing it! i go in ONCE a year. it would be free for me to go twice a year but i cannot do that. i don't want to hear all that small talk and pressure to get xrays all the time. leave me alone. never had a cavity in my adult teeth ever.

lame lame lame.

how did it turn from once a year to twice a year and full x-rays ?

i'll do full xrays maybe once every five years at most. unless there is an issue.

so stupid how they do this.

[Zoebird]

Well, I have to say that I didn't go to the dentist for a 5 year stint -- no cleanings or anything -- and the dentist was sure i'd been cleaned in the last 6 months. I do take good care of my teeth.

But my favorite thing is getting my teeth cleaned. I would do it 3 times a year if I could afford it. I'd also get facials, even though I take very good care of my skin.

Anyhoot, I don't do it becase "they" say to. I do what I want. :) And I want at least one cleaning per year (which is what I can afford now), though ideally I'd go three times, and I needed the check up because my filling needed to be replaced. Which was good to know. I didn't and don't have any other damage in my teeth, and DS's check up came back very, very good. They were surprised that he didn't ahve any cavaties or soft spots in his baby teeth, and I suspect he won't have any when he starts getting his adult teeth, just because we don't consume much sugar.

[littenhope]

I go to the dentist about once a year for a cleaning and check up. hope this helps!

[gimmethesimplelife]

I'm a big believer in getting my teeth cleaned twice a year as my plaque does build up quickly - and I also live close to the border so cost is not a deterrent. Seriously, $20 is what I pay for a great cleaning walking in off the street with no appointment, though depending on season you may be waiting awhile with no appointment. I've learned to stagger it so I'm not in Algodones during peak Spring season to avoid the crowds and the long waits to cross the US border on the way back. Back to the OP - I'm not sure there is a cut and dried answer that fits all as to how often teeth need to be cleaned. My twice annually seems to work well for me, though. Rob

[awakenedsoul]

Hi littenhope. Welcome to the forum. I'm impressed with all of you who have such good teeth. I did, too, until I got older. I used to eat a TON of sugar. Even though I brushed and flossed two or three times a day, I got lots of cavities. (I used to put a lot of sugar in my coffee, too.) I've had a lot of dental work done. I was one of those people who didn't go to the dentist for ten years at a time because of the trauma. After going regularly and catching up on "repairs" I switched to a system called zellies. It's designed by a dentist in NY. Her website is www.zellies.com. I use all the rinses and Crest regular toothpaste. My teeth no longer hurt, and they feel like pearls! She has a very comprehensive website. I use the zylotol gum and mints, too.

[Selah]

Twice a year. I have some teeth that are "arranged" in my mouth in such a way that they are just magnets for plaque and tartar, and while I floss nearly daily, floss can't get everything when there is such a major "squish" factor. DH, on the other hand, has great teeth that are spaced so that flossing pretty much takes care of everything. He hadn't had his teeth cleaned in five years, and when I finally got him to go to the dentist, the dentist assumed he'd had them cleaned recently!

[pinkytoe]

Funny that this thread was revived - because a year and more later - I still haven't gone for a cleaning. Maybe this fall…right now, other body parts are needing attention.

[Teacher Terry]

It really varies. Everyone in my family of origin have bad teeth although everyone takes excellent care of their teeth. I get my cleaned 4x's/year because it is necessary.

[awakenedsoul]

That is funny, pinkytoe. When I saw the xrays of my teeth, they looked like trees that were planted way too close to each other. They are so crowded! But, they are now healthy and strong. I spend a lot of money on the zellies rinses and zylotol, but it's doing the job.

My parents go to the dentist like clockwork, and they both have terrible teeth. My dad's are just little stubs...

[pony mom]

awakenedsoul, I still do the Dr. Ellie system too and my teeth feel great! One cavity has reversed and another spot that was just becoming rough is now perfect. I'm so glad you're still doing it and it's working for you.

It is a hassle taking xylitol after every meal/snack but it's become routine now. I think the mints are so delicious and clean-tasting and I haven't had another kind of mint since starting the Zellies.

I still haven't been to a dentist and I'm hoping I won't need one if I keep this up.

[awakenedsoul]

pony mom,

That's great! I've experienced the same thing. It's become my routine now. My neighbor told me that her grandmother was Armenian and still had all of her teeth at 100! They found sticks of zylotol gum in her kitchen when she died. I guess it's more common in Europe.

I haven't needed a dentist in at least ten years. It sounds like we're getting the same results. It's such a relief for me. When I used to go to the dentist, I would have to go back over and over for cracked teeth, crowns, etc...this is so much better for me.

Thanks for letting me know!