Your teeth need more than good dental hygiene at home to maintain your beautiful smile. You also need to visit the dentist every six months for professional dental cleaning. Here’s why regular dental cleanings are crucial to your oral health.
Dental Cleanings Overview
Dental cleanings are a preventive measure to keep your smile healthy. During a routine cleaning, your dental hygienist uses special tools to remove sticky plaque and hard tartar deposits from the surfaces of your teeth along your gums and in between your teeth. The process typically involves three steps:
- Scaling: This step removes plaque buildup and tartar from your teeth along your gum line.
- Polishing: This involves brushing your teeth with gritty toothpaste to remove any stains on the surface of your teeth.
- Flossing: The final step to remove any debris from between your teeth.
Why Are Regular Dental Cleaning Visits Important?
- Keep teeth free from plaque and tartar: Plaque is a sticky film that contains millions of bacteria and turns into tartar if it isn’t removed. When plaque and tartar accumulate on the teeth, they eat away at tooth enamel leading to tooth decay.
- Prevent serious dental problems: Regular cleanings give your dentist a chance to thoroughly examine your teeth, gums, and mouth, allowing them to identify and treat any potential oral health issues before they become serious problems.
- Reduce the risk of gingivitis: Apart from causing tooth decay, tartar and plaque can also cause gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease. The bacteria in plaque and tartar cause your gums to become inflamed and infected, and if left untreated, gingivitis can worsen into periodontitis and can eventually cause tooth loss or affect your overall health by increasing your risk of heart disease. Regular dental cleanings significantly reduce your odds of losing your teeth due to gum disease.
- Help your teeth last longer: By preventing tooth decay and gum disease, regular teeth cleanings help maintain your oral and prevent early tooth loss.
- Brighten your smile: After removing all the plaque and tartar, we will polish your teeth to remove any surface stains on your teeth, leaving you with a bright smile.
Taking Care of Teeth Between Routine Teeth Cleanings
After your routine dental cleaning, you need to practice good oral hygiene to maintain your oral health until your next appointment. Brush twice a day using fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled brush, and floss at least once daily. Insufficient oral hygiene may lead to needing more frequent cleanings, or dental issues like decay.
Professional Teeth Cleaning in Indian Trail, NC
At Indian Trail Dental Studio, we’re passionate about helping you and your family maintain excellent oral health, and that’s why we offer professional teeth cleanings. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
