Did you know that brushing your teeth regularly isn’t all you should be doing to maintain optimal oral cleanliness? Visiting your dentist for routine cleanings is an important part of your health, too. Today, Germantown Dental Group will explain: What are the benefits of professional teeth cleaning?
How It Works
A professional cleaning is also known as dental prophylaxis and typically involves several steps when you first enter the office:
- Assessment: The dental hygienist will begin by assessing your overall health by examining your teeth, gums, and oral tissues. They may also review your medical history and discuss any concerns or issues you might have coming into your appointment.
- Scaling: Using special instruments, the hygienist will carefully remove plaque and tartar buildup from the surfaces of your teeth, both above and below the gum line. This process helps prevent gum disease and tooth decay.
- Polishing: After scaling, the dental hygienist will polish your teeth using a gritty toothpaste and a high-powered toothbrush or polishing tool. This helps to remove surface stains and smoothens the tooth surfaces, making it harder for plaque to accumulate.
- Flossing: The hygienist will floss between your teeth to remove any plaque or debris that may have been missed during scaling and polishing. Flossing helps clean areas that are difficult to reach with a toothbrush.
- Fluoride Treatment (Optional): Depending on your risk of developing cavities, your dentist may apply a fluoride treatment on your teeth. Fluoride helps to strengthen the enamel and can help prevent tooth decay.
- Oral Hygiene Instructions: Before you leave, the dental hygienist and dentist will provide you with personalized oral hygiene instructions, including tips on brushing, flossing, and maintaining good oral health at home.
Benefits to Your Health
When you have your teeth cleaned routinely, it can provide you with a number of assets to your overall oral health.
- Plaque and Tartar Removal: Even with regular brushing and flossing, plaque can accumulate on your teeth, hardening into tartar over time. Professional cleaning removes this buildup, which prevents issues like cavities and bad breath.
- Prevention of Gum Disease: Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is caused by excess bacteria in plaque and tartar irritating the gums. When these irritants are removed during cleaning, it can reduce the risk of gingivitis (early-stage of gum disease) and periodontitis (advanced gum disease).
- Fresher Breath: Plaque and tartar buildup produces foul-smelling gasses, leading to bad breath. Removing this bacteria will result in fresher breath.
- Stain Removal: Professional cleaning can remove surface stains caused by coffee, tea, wine, tobacco, and certain foods, which will leave your teeth looking whiter and brighter.
- Early Detection of Dental Issues: During a cleaning, Dr. Whittemore and Dr. Gruen have an opportunity to detect early signs of dental problems, like cavities, gum disease, oral cancer, and teeth grinding. Earlier detection allows room for prompt treatment, which can prevent further damage and complications.
- Improved Oral Health: Research suggests a link between oral health and systemic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory infections. By maintaining excellent oral hygiene with the help of professional cleanings, you may reduce your risk of developing some of these conditions.
- Preservation of Tooth Structure: Tartar buildup can lead to erosion of tooth enamel, increasing the risk of cavities and tooth decay. Regular cleanings help preserve the integrity of tooth structure, reducing the need for extensive dental work such as fillings, crowns, or extractions.
- Long-Term Cost Savings: Investing in preventative dental care, such as professional cleanings, can ultimately save you money in the long run by reducing the need for costly restorative treatments and emergency dental care. It’s an investment in both your oral health and overall well-being.
- Enhanced Professional Relationships: Seeing your dentist and dental care team more often can help you foster a more trusting relationship. This open communication can help make it easier to discuss any concerns or preferences you might have and allow you to work together to achieve your oral health goals.
- Peace of Mind for Parents: For parents, scheduling regular dental cleanings can be a reliable touchstone for their children’s oral health. Kids can, of course, be unpredictable and non-compliant when it comes to health practices, so this ensures that thorough cleanings are taking place.
An Important Step
As you can tell, this routine appointment is more critical than people think. If you have dental insurance, contact your company to see if one or more cleanings are covered by your plan each year. Our office is happy to help answer any other questions you may have about this process or to get you scheduled for your next visit. Visit us in Germantown today!