A dental prophylaxis is another term for professional cleaning where the procedure is a clean in-depth process to eliminate plaque buildups in hard to reach areas. Brushing your teeth and flossing them can only get so far; therefore, dental prophylaxis is to ensure that your teeth are thoroughly cleaned. It is best advised to regularly schedule dental prophylaxis to prevent tooth decay or any gum disease progression. The reason why it is highly recommended and required is that during the exam, your dentist will be able to detect any oral issues. Many dental problems are hard to see since they do not cause discomfort or indicate any symptoms. The best way to make sure that you are carefully diagnosed is by your dentist’s thorough exam. A professional dental cleaning can save you time and money (as well as pain and discomfort!) in the long term. Since the oral symptoms are caught at an early stage, your dentist will be able to provide you with treatment options that are less painful and cost-efficient. Even though you may practice perfection with your oral hygiene at home, you may need to schedule your dental prophylaxis exams twice a year. There are some cases where you may only need to schedule an appointment once a year, but if there are signs of gum disease, you may need to schedule a visit every three months. In gum disease scenarios, it is necessary to visit your dentist for thorough teeth cleaning to avoid gum disease progression that can lead to tooth loss. Remember that periodontitis can not be reversed, but an effective cleaning treatment plan will still be available. There are numerous reasons recommended for you to schedule a professional dental cleaning. Those with high dental disease risks include smoking, pre-existing gum disease, cavities-prone, diabetic, immune-compromised, and pregnant may need to schedule frequent appointments.