A method for operating a sensor for detecting particles in a measuring gas. The sensor includes a sensor element including a substrate, and at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode situated on the substrate. The first electrode and the second electrode carry out a current and/or voltage measurement in temporally spaced measuring phases, at least during an interruption of a measuring phase a check being carried out as to whether the interrupted measuring phase is continuable, the interrupted measuring phase being identified as continuable, and the sensor being subsequently switched off, if, after an expected trigger time, a value for a current and/or voltage measurement falls below a threshold value, a regeneration of the sensor element for removing particles from the sensor element being carried out, and the sensor being subsequently switched off, if the value for the current and/or voltage measurement exceeds the threshold value.