You have been told that you should see a dentist twice a year for a dental cleaning. You brush your teeth. Maybe you even floss every day as well. Isn’t what you do at home enough? Actually, to maintain your long term oral health, you really do need to go in for this cleaning. But why? What does this cleaning do that you can’t do completely on your own? Although your healthy daily oral habits are certainly important, here are three things that your dental cleaning does to keep your mouth healthy.
Remove Hardened Plaque
Even with the most diligent oral care at home, plaque can accumulate in your mouth. Within hours, plaque can start to harden on your teeth, at which point it becomes much more difficult to remove on your own. In fact, only your hygienist or dentist can remove calcified plaque, also called tartar. If allowed to remain on your teeth, tartar can cause all kinds of problems for your oral health. Your semiannual dental appointment helps ensure that your mouth can become clean and fresh without unsightly and dangerous buildup.
Prevent and Treat Gum Disease
Your dental cleaning every six months can protect your mouth from a condition that affects nearly half of American adults over age 30: gum disease. The bacteria in plaque produce acids that irritate your gums, causing inflammation. If you are in the first stage of gum disease called gingivitis, your dentist can treat the condition with a simple dental cleaning. If, however, your gum disease has advanced to periodontitis, more intensive treatment is needed to restore your oral health.
Don’t be fooled by the name. This chronic inflammatory disease impacts more than your gums. In the more advanced stages, the supporting tissue and bone that hold your teeth in place can become damaged, causing your teeth to become loose. Eventually gum disease can lead to tooth loss. Your dental cleaning twice a year plays a vital role in preventing gum disease from progressing to the point where you suffer permanent, irreversible damage.
Prevent Tooth Decay
The same acids that cause gum disease also cause erode your teeth’s enamel and cause tooth decay. At the beginning of decay, you may not feel anything, but over time, you can experience more sensitivity to hot and cold or sugary food and drinks. Eventually, the decay penetrates to the innermost layer of your tooth or the pulp, where the nerves are. When this happens, you will likely feel pain, sometimes quite severe. At that point, your dentist will need to perform root canal therapy, where they remove the infected tissue and place a filling or crown on your tooth. Dental cleanings are an opportunity to give your teeth a fresh start and stop bacteria from having a chance to wreak havoc on your teeth. If you go in for your six-month cleaning, you can spare yourself a lot of pain in the future.
In the end, your oral health is worth the time it takes to get a dental cleaning every six months. It may seem like a little thing, but this cleaning can protect your teeth and gums from harm and leave your mouth feeling perfectly clean. By taking advantage of these appointments, you can enjoy your natural, healthy smile for many years to come.
About the Practice
Dr. Robert Blake, founder of Beverly Farms Dental, has been serving the Beverly community for over 30 years. He has been joined by Dr. Lauren Gadeberg, who has experience serving as a dentist in the Navy. They and their staff are dedicated to delivering quality, long-lasting dental care for each patient. To contact them for an appointment, you can call (978) 927-3515 or click here.