Why Dental Cleanings are Essential
It’s no secret that receiving regular Marco dental care is important! In fact, dental cleanings and checkups are essential for maintaining excellent oral health and a beautiful, healthy smile. Let’s go over why they’re so important for you and what to expect during this appointment.
What is a Dental Cleaning?
A routine dental cleaning is performed twice a year by a dental hygienist. This appointment involves using professional tools to clean and polish your teeth. Dentists recommend regular teeth cleanings to help patients achieve and maintain optimal oral health. It provides a deeper and more thorough clean than you can accomplish with regular brushing and flossing.
Reasons Why Dental Cleanings are Important
Besides helping you achieve excellent oral health, dental cleanings can be important for several other reasons. Here are some of the reasons why you don’t want to skip these appointments:
Prevents Serious Oral Conditions
One of the primary reasons people visit the dentist for a cleaning is to prevent severe oral conditions. Your dentist has the tools to remove plaque buildup from your gums before it turns into decay. Plaque forms when sugar and starches are frequently left on the teeth, which causes bacteria to produce enamel-destroying acids. When left untreated, it can cause more severe problems, such as tooth decay or gum disease.
By scheduling a routine cleaning twice a year and having good at-home practices, your mouth should be healthy and free of diseases.
Brightens Your Smile
Routine cleanings can also help you maintain a healthy and clean smile. Your smile may appear dull when you have surface stains, plaque, and tartar on your teeth. Professional dental cleanings can remove those stains and leave your teeth brighter and whiter. Of course, some discoloration may require a whitening treatment if you want a more dramatic result.
Freshens Your Breath
Are you suffering from halitosis? The food particles and bacteria in your mouth can cause your breath to smell not-so-pleasant, even after brushing your teeth. A professional dental cleaning is designed to control this bacteria and keep your mouth odor-free. You should walk out of every appointment with your breath feeling nice and fresh!
Saves Money
Though this may come as a surprise, dental cleanings can save you money in several ways. First, most dental insurance plans have no or low copayments for routine cleanings and exams. This allows you to save money on dental expenses in the long run.
You won’t have to undergo costly procedures to correct dental issues with regularly maintained teeth. As we said earlier, routine cleanings can help prevent serious oral conditions. Many of these problems require root canals or other invasive treatments to correct, which can become an expense.
Protects Your Overall Health
Your oral health and overall health are very much linked. By having a healthy mouth, you’re doing your body a favor.
For example, gum disease is strongly linked to cardiovascular disease. Patients with gum disease are also much more likely to have a heart attack or stroke. By keeping your mouth free of oral issues, you’re significantly lowering your risk of having other heart and health problems.
Early Detection
Your routine visits also include a checkup, which allows your dentist to examine your teeth and mouth for early signs of dental concerns. It’s best to notice these things early because treatment will be easier and less invasive. You may even be able to get something done right away to prevent the problem from worsening.
Some things a dentist can detect in its early stages during a checkup and cleaning include:
- Cavities
- Oral cancer
- Gum disease
- Tooth decay
Helps Stop Bab Habits
Many of us may not realize that some of our habits are harming our oral health. Your dentist is there to answer any questions you may have and provide all the best advice to maintain a healthy smile. By visiting regularly, they can help you stop the bad habits that can pose a threat to your teeth.
Some of the common ones most people do are:
- Brushing too aggressively
- Biting your nails
- Grinding your teeth
- Failing to floss
What to Expect During Your Dental Cleaning
Dental cleanings are relatively quick and straightforward. Before your hygienist brushes your teeth, they’ll use a small mirror to examine your teeth and gums. Next, they’ll use a small metal tool called a scaler to remove plaque or tartar from around the gumline. It’s designed to vibrate and break apart the buildup, making it easier to remove.
Once all the plaque and tartar are gone, they’ll use a high-powered electric toothbrush and gritty toothpaste to deep clean your teeth. Your hygienist will then floss your teeth to clean all the areas between your teeth. Finally, they’ll give you a mouth rinse so you can remove any remaining debris from your teeth and mouth.
If your hygienist notices something out of the ordinary, they may want to grab an x-ray for the dentist to take a closer look at your teeth and mouth. From there, they can determine your next steps and a treatment plan.
Taking Care of Your Teeth Between Appointments
Of course, dental cleanings are only one part of taking care of your teeth. You also need to brush and floss regularly at home and see your dentist for regular checkups. Doing this will ensure your teeth are healthy and strong!
In between appointments, there are a few things you can do to take care of your teeth:
- Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
- Floss daily
- Eat a balanced diet
- Avoid sugary foods or drinks
- Don’t smoke
Marco Dental Care Can Help You Maintain Good Oral Health
Scheduling a dental cleaning is important for maintaining good oral health. This routine procedure removes tartar, plaque, and stains from teeth, helping to prevent gum disease and tooth decay. Dental cleanings also help you maintain a healthy smile, detect oral health problems early on, and keep your breath fresh.
So don’t wait – schedule an appointment with your Marco dental care provider today!
