How often do you go to the dental hygienist?

[DoTheNextRightThing]

My dentist says I should be visiting the hygienist every 6 months - but I'm reluctant to pay £25 twice a year to get a scale and polish. At my previous dental practice, I only went when they said they needed done. My teeth are really good condition, and I don't drink anything which would stain them. Do you think I need to go every 6 months? How often do you go?

Every 3 months. My teeth would drop out otherwise.

I have to have 4 sessions a year as I’ve got crappy gums that fall apart if I don’t keep on top of the plaque. I’m currently pregnant and had a hygienist appointment last week - it was like a scene from Jaws!

I've never been, took DDs & thought it looked awful! Check up once a year, private dentist. A scale & polish plus check up is around £100 but very thorough.

3 times a year since I started seeing a private dentist and I've really noticed the difference (I have great teeth, but they are fairly crowded and I like coffee, tea and red wine a bit too much).

Never been to a hygienist.

I have an NHS dentist check up every 6 months. My dentist hasn't told me I need to see one.

What is a hygienist and what do they do? Is this a private thing?

Every three months I have got gum disease. It prevents me from losing any more teeth and getting gum infections .

@OllyBJolly I live in the west of Scotland. I have lovely teeth.

Definitely some varied responses here. Not sure it's helped me make up my mind 😂

I didn't go until about 2 years ago, now I go every 6 months. I have slightly wonky teeth with some funny gaps/overlaps that are difficult to keep totally clean on my own, and having experienced the difference once I had a hygienist clean them the discomfort of having them chiselled away at twice a year is worth it!

I'm a dentist. £25 is a bargain! It's on a case by case basis. Dentists do a screening of your gums and general oral hygiene every check up. It's called a BPE ( basic periodontal examination).
Depending on the results determines what treatment needs to be done. I'll try and post a photo of the basic screening. We indicate a number for every area of your mouth splits into sextants, so you will get 6 scores each visit. The higher the score, the more concerning the problem is, and the greater need for treatment

Every 6 months to hygienist and dentist
My teeth are fine
My gums are healthy
I am 66

Gum recession and some bone loss here so go every 4 to 6 months to a specialist clinic. She is brilliant but horrendously expensive. If she charged £25 I'd go weekly

No idea why this happened to me as I've always taken care of my teeth, dental check ups, flossed, never smoked etc. Upset me when it was diagnosed when I returned to the UK. Just hope I can keep my teeth a good while longer.

3 x a year....got slightly dodgy gums so need to keep on top of it

paid for by insurance, but it's a hell of a lot more than 25 quid

When I first went to my dentist he referred me, and they recommended an electric toothbrush. Since then I asked to go and he said I didn’t need to. Surely it’s thorough daily brushing thats most important and you only need to go to a hygienist if there’s issues? Unless they’re just fleecing you od course.

Gosh I didn’t realise other places were so much more expensive! It's not that I think it should be free or even cheaper, just that if I don't need it then it's £50 a year I can spend on other things. But yes, you're all right, I should keep going. Thanks all

Never been.

Four times a year, I hate it and it is expensive but I really don't want to lose my teeth.

I used to years ago and I hated it. It was painful (also expensive) and I remember seemed to take ages for my mouth to settle down again after a visit.

I don’t go anymore and the different dentIst I have now doesn’t keep pushing it on me either.