9 Ways Regular Dental Cleanings Help Protect Your Smile
When was the last time you had a regular dental cleaning? Did it surprise you to realize it’s been a while since you last visited your dentist?
You may notice more yellow stains on your teeth, but your sparkling smile can be restored with a quick call to your dentist. The dental cleaning process can revive dull teeth and help you feel more confident.
But regular dental cleanings can take care of more than your teeth’s appearance—they are also vital to your oral health.
Many patients only visit the dentist when they are experiencing pain from a toothache. However, scheduling regular dental cleanings is the best way to prevent pain and other oral health issues.
During a preventive dental cleaning, also called prophylaxis, your dental health professional uses special dental instruments and techniques to remove plaque and tartar. These substances are often difficult to remove with a toothbrush or dental floss.
Patients experience many benefits when they have their teeth cleaned. They look brighter and feel smoother, but there are nine other key advantages.
Patients with unhealthy gums often avoid smiling to hide them. Regularly visiting your dentist can correct gum problems and enhance your smile.
During a dental cleaning, bacteria found in plaque gets removed using dental floss or an ultrasonic cleaning instrument. After a few routine visits, you may begin noticing less swelling in your gum tissue.
One of the main reasons your dentist cleans your teeth is to prevent cavities. Brushing and flossing at home are crucial, but regular dental cleanings will support a patient’s efforts to fight tooth decay.
Some people have a friendly smile until you get closer. Bad breath can cancel out the beauty of a smile! But with dental cleanings and an examination by the dentist, you can improve your breath. Flossing, polishing, and removing plaque are common ways to address this issue. Using a mouth rinse can help too.
Without regular dental cleanings, plaque accumulates on your teeth and under the gum tissue. As it grows, it becomes hard and damages your tooth enamel. Bacteria living in the plaque make you more likely to develop gum disease.
As untreated gum disease progresses, you can begin losing teeth. Regular dental cleanings fight against gum disease and prevent tooth loss.
Besides cavities and gum disease, other oral conditions can harm your smile. At a routine cleaning, your dentist will complete an exam of your oral cavity to identify potential issues.
During this exam, your dentist may find broken fillings that could lead to a tooth infection. The dentist will also complete an oral cancer screening to identify early signs of disease in your mouth.
Routine dental cleanings are the perfect time for your dentist to ensure your entire mouth, including the muscles, is healthy and functioning properly. Any issues with your jaw can be detected early, which can help solve the problem more effectively.
Similarly, routine cleanings can also detect problems that may be otherwise hidden, such as nighttime bruxism or mouth breathing.
Tobacco products, wine, coffee, and tea can stain your teeth. As a result, white teeth can slowly become yellow or brown. A dental cleaning includes polishing the teeth and removing stains that a toothbrush leaves behind.
Many systemic diseases have early symptoms that appear in the mouth. Visiting the dentist routinely allows them to identify and monitor any problems. Some of these diseases that may first be seen in the oral cavity include:
Your dentist may be on the lookout for symptoms of these diseases, which could save you from a late diagnosis from your medical doctor.
Oral hygiene has also been linked to the cardiovascular system. Good oral health translates to having a healthy cardiovascular system and lowering the risk of diabetes.
A professional cleaning from a qualified dental professional will save you from spending additional time in the dentist’s office getting a filling or other dental treatment. It can also save you from spending money on costly dental procedures.
Dental care does not come in a one-size-fits-all package. Although the American Dental Association sets basic recommendations for teeth cleaning, they may only apply to some.
The general recommendation is to visit a dentist for routine dental cleanings twice a year. But your dentist will create a customized plan based on your unique oral health needs.
Adults are keeping their teeth longer than ever, and regular dental maintenance is a key reason. At My Chico Dentist, we offer quality, modern care to help your family enjoy beautiful, healthy smiles for years to come.
Call My Chico Dentist to learn more about our routine dental cleanings today!
Call 530-893-8913 or request an appointment online to set up your first visit. We’ll be in touch soon.