For many of us, “spring cleaning” often means something along the lines of “cleaning your house until it’s absolutely spotless.” But your house might not be the only thing that needs to be tidied up this season—when was the last time you gave your teeth a good cleaning? Even if you’re usually diligent about keeping your mouth spick-and-span, your dentist in Las Cruces thinks you could greatly benefit from a teeth cleaning. Here’s what you should do.

It’s recommended that patients see their dentist every six months for regular cleanings and checkups. During this time, your dental hygienist is able to periodically clean away the plaque and tartar that you missed with your daily oral hygiene routine and your dentist can check for oral health issues so they can be treated before becoming more severe. The problem is that many people don’t attend their regular appointments as often as they should. Here are some reasons why.