The ADA now states that the frequency of dental visits should be dependent on your oral health and your dentist’s recommendation.

But, many dentists advise getting a dental cleaning and checkup every six months, and more often than that if you have gum disease or are at risk of gum disease (if you smoke or have diabetes, for example). You’ll also need more frequent cleanings if you’re prone to plaque (and thus tartar) formation.

People who may need cleanings more often include:

• Those with dry mouth, often caused by medications or aging. While saliva does contain bacteria, your saliva also helps wash away food particles.
• Those who lack the physical dexterity to thoroughly brush their teeth.
• Those who have conditions preventing them from fully understanding or completing a dental hygiene routine.
• Tartar impacts your gums

  The irritation and inflammation that tartar produces can lead to gum disease. Early stage gum disease, which can be reversed, is known as gingivitis. Symptoms include:

  • red, swollen gums
  • gums that bleed when you floss or brush
  • tender gums

  Gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, which cannot be reversed. In addition to swollen, tender, bleeding gums, look for these signs:

  • painful chewing
  • loose teeth
  • gums separating from teeth
  • pus collecting between your teeth

  The bacteria that causes periodontitis can gain entry to the bloodstream, which may increase the risk of heart and lung disease. This makes it especially important to seek dental care if you notice any of these symptoms.

  These severe effects are avoidable through brushing, flossing, and rinsing your teeth as regularly as possible.

  About tartar and your teeth

  There are 700 species of bacteriaTrusted Source living in your mouth. This bacteria is the breeding ground for plaque, a colorless, sticky film that coats teeth. When bacteria-ladened plaque mixes with food particles, it produces a tooth-destroying acid.

  Regular brushing and flossing can remove most plaque before it has a chance to cause real damage. But plaque that’s allowed to sit on teeth combines with minerals in your saliva and hardens into tartar.

  A 2016 study published in the Journal of Health Sciences & Research noted that about 92 percent of Americans have noticeable tartar on their teeth.

  The takeaway

  While tartar buildup is common, it can have a really big effect on your quality of life if left unchecked. Daily brushing and flossing, along with periodic dental cleanings and checkups, are your best defenses to keeping this hardened plaque at bay.