How often should you have a dental cleaning?

In short: the normal pace is to have a dental cleaning every 6 to 12 months, but there’s no magic number that’s the same for everyone. If you build up a lot of tartar or have delicate gums, your dentist may ask you to come every 6 months; if your mouth is healthy, once a year is usually enough. It’s decided by your case, not by a fixed calendar.

Why do I need a cleaning if I already brush at home?

Because no matter how well you brush, there are places the brush can’t reach: between teeth, right at the gum line, behind the lower teeth. There, dental plaque gradually hardens and turns into tartar (calculus). And once tartar has formed, brushing won’t remove it: it’s stuck to the tooth like cement.

That’s exactly what a dental cleaning does: remove that tartar with ultrasound and leave the tooth surface smooth again, so bacteria have a harder time. It’s pure prevention, not a cosmetic indulgence.

So how often? What really sets your pace

Not everyone needs the same interval. These factors mean your dentist may ask for more frequent cleanings:

• Your gums bleed or are inflamed. It’s a sign that there’s accumulated plaque and it’s worth keeping a closer eye on it.
• You build up tartar quickly. Some people, because of their saliva or the type of mouth they have, produce tartar at full speed.
• You smoke. Tobacco encourages tartar, stains, and masks gum bleeding.
• You have orthodontics, implants or crowns. Areas with more nooks where plaque accumulates.
• You have diabetes or other conditions that affect the gums.

If none of this applies to you and your mouth is healthy, a cleaning once a year is a good pace. If any of it rings a bell, every 6 months is probably right for you.

What happens if I skip cleanings for years?

Tartar doesn’t stay still. It works its way down below the gum and keeps a constant inflammation going. First comes gingivitis (red gums that bleed), which is still reversible. If left to run, it can progress to periodontitis, which destroys the bone that holds the tooth, and that doesn’t come back. In advanced cases you end up losing teeth.

The good part: catching it in time is easy and cheap. Caught early, it’s treated with a cleaning; the same thing ignored for years can end in periodontics treatment or losing teeth. That’s why we insist so much on prevention. (This is general information; your specific situation is assessed by a professional in the practice.)

Is a cleaning the same as deep scaling (curettage)?

No, and it’s worth not confusing them. A cleaning (or prophylaxis) works above the gum, on visible tartar, and is for maintenance. Curettage (scaling and root planing) goes below the gum, into pockets where there is already disease, and is a periodontics treatment, not a simple routine cleaning. If someone has told you that you need curettage, it means things have already gone beyond the gingivitis stage.

And children, do they need it too?

Yes, although their pace and technique are different. For the little ones the priority is prevention, regular check-ups and teaching them to brush well; the type of cleaning is adapted to their age. That’s handled by paediatric dentistry, which treats children’s mouths with an approach designed for them.

In short, what’s the sensible plan?

Have regular check-ups and let your dentist set how often you need a cleaning, based on how your gums are developing. Don’t go just by “well, I had one a year ago”: go by how your mouth is doing. And between cleanings, the work is done by you at home: brushing twice a day and floss or interdental brushes.

If it’s been a while since anyone looked at your mouth and you live in Bilbao or the surrounding area, don’t wait until something hurts. Your first check-up is free: book an appointment and we’ll sort out your cleaning schedule together.