How often should you get your teeth cleaned?

The usual interval

Every 6 to 12 months. That is the range most people fall into, and for a lot of patients it simply means one appointment a year.

What moves you to the shorter end

Three things, all documented on the treatment page as reasons a dentist may recommend a shorter interval:

• You form tartar quickly. This varies a great deal between people and has a lot to do with saliva composition — it is not purely a measure of how well you brush.
• You smoke.
• You have a history of gum disease, where the cost of letting deposits build is higher than average.

None of these is a judgement. They are just faster build-up, which means a shorter useful life for each clean.

Why the interval is not "when it looks bad"

Tartar is not primarily a cosmetic problem. It sits at and just below the gumline holding plaque against the gum, which is what drives inflammation and, over time, the bone loss that loosens teeth. By the time it is visible enough to prompt a booking, it has usually been doing that for a while.

The interval exists to stay ahead of that, which is why it is set in advance rather than by appearance.

Cleaning and check-ups are related but not the same

A check-up looks for decay, gum changes and anything else that needs attention. A cleaning removes deposits. They often coincide in one visit, but the reason for each is different, and the interval your dentist recommends for one does not automatically apply to the other.

Between appointments

Daily brushing and cleaning between the teeth is what determines how much there is to remove when you arrive. If your gums bleed while you do it, that is worth reporting rather than working around — it usually means inflammation from plaque, and it is the earliest signal the interval or the routine needs adjusting.

Full detail on the scaling and polishing page; see also how often to have a dental check-up. Consultation ₹500, waived against treatment.