Why Are Professional Dental Cleanings So Important?
When was the last time you visited your dentist for a cleaning? Combined with brushing and flossing, regular dental cleanings can benefit your oral health in many ways. At Sunrise Dental, we can’t stress the importance of professional dental cleanings enough. Here’s why you should be getting your teeth professionally cleaned at least twice a year.
The Importance of Regular Professional Dental Cleanings
Even if you follow a thorough oral hygiene routine every day, there’s only so much that a toothbrush and floss can do. Bacteria can build up in the spaces between your teeth that are difficult to reach, where they can turn into plaque and tartar and cause cavities. Getting your teeth professionally cleaned every six months removes plaque and tartar from hard-to-reach areas and keeps your teeth bright and healthy.
Four Benefits of Professional Dental Cleanings
1: Reduce Tooth Discoloration
If you don’t remove plaque from your teeth soon enough, it hardens into tartar, which can only be removed with a professional cleaning. Tartar isn’t just difficult to get rid of, it also discolors your teeth, because it is typically yellow or brown. Dental cleanings help you maintain a brighter smile, especially if you’ve recently had a teeth whitening treatment.
2. Prevent Tooth Decay and Gum Disease
Eliminating plaque and tartar significantly reduces your risk of developing tooth decay and gum disease. Plaque and tartar wear down your tooth enamel over time, and weak enamel leads to cavities that allow bacteria to reach inside your teeth. This can result in tooth sensitivity, tooth pain, abscesses, and even tooth loss.
The bacteria in plaque and tartar also irritate the gums, causing the inflammation that leads to gum disease. Gum disease is an infection that can have serious consequences if left untreated. For instance, bleeding gums (a common symptom of gum disease) allow harmful bacteria to enter the bloodstream and attack other areas of the body. Gum disease can also infect the jaw, resulting in bone loss and tooth loss.
3: Save Money
The consequences of tooth decay and gum disease aren’t just painful, they’re also expensive to treat. Maintaining a healthy mouth with regular dental cleanings can save you money in the long run. By reducing your risk of tooth decay and gum disease, you also reduce the chances of needing extensive dental work like root canals or implants in the future. Plus, dental insurance providers will almost always cover the cost of your twice-yearly cleanings, helping you save even more money.
4: Catch Warning Signs of Oral Cancer Early
Professional cleanings also provide your dentist with an opportunity to check for signs of oral cancer. The sooner you can spot the signs of oral cancer, the more effective your treatment will be. If you smoke, frequently drink alcohol, or are over 55 years old, you have a much higher risk of developing oral cancer, and can especially benefit from regular dental cleanings.
What to Expect from a Professional Teeth Cleaning
If you have any anxiety about visiting the dentist, knowing what to expect can help you feel more confident. A professional teeth cleaning is a simple, painless procedure. All it involves is an examination and thorough cleaning of the inside of your mouth.
During the cleaning, special dental tools are used to clean your teeth and remove plaque and tartar along your gum line. Then, your teeth will be polished to brighten your smile. You might also get a fluoride treatment to strengthen your teeth, or laser therapy to heal damaged gums.
During the exam, your dentist will check for signs of cavities, broken fillings, and other oral problems. Then they will discuss your treatment options based on what they find. If you haven’t had a dental x-ray recently, your dentist will also need to take radiographs to check for underlying problems.
Gentle Dental Cleanings in Peoria, Arizona
With so many benefits, professional dental cleanings are a must! It’s crucial to your dental health that you never skip an appointment. At Sunrise Dental, we help our neighbors in Peoria and the surrounding areas maintain beautiful, healthy smiles with our comprehensive dental services. If you’re due for an exam and cleaning or need to reschedule an appointment, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 623-487-4870.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (6/22/2022). Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels