You have probably heard it before: dentists recommend teeth cleanings at least twice a year. This may seem excessive if you feel that you have a good oral health routine. However, going to your routine teeth cleanings can be extremely beneficial for your dental health.
Teeth Cleanings Can Prevent Major Issues
When you go to your regular dental cleanings, you can help prevent major dental issues from developing.
Because dental cleaning removes plaque, it helps reduce your chances of tooth decay and gum disease. Unfortunately, plaque is the most common cause of both these issues. Over time, tooth decay and gum disease can cause massive damage to your teeth and gums.
Additionally, one of the first steps in a dental cleaning is to have x-rays done of your teeth and mouth. An x-ray can help your dental team get a full picture of your oral health. Although you do undergo a physical exam, an x-ray can see issues happening underneath the surface of your teeth and gums.
It is possible that you may have a dental issue begin to develop even if you don’t experience any symptoms. Therefore, an x-ray can help your dentist identify the issue before it causes any significant damage. For example, you may notice the beginning stages of a cavity, but the damage inside your tooth is much worse than it looks.
In addition, your dentist will be able to spot if you have any further problems or ones that may develop. For example, while looking at your teeth, they may notice that you suffer from bruxism, a condition that causes you to grind your teeth. As a result, they may recommend a nightguard to protect your teeth.
Teeth Cleanings Can Give You Brighter, Healthier Teeth
The process of teeth cleaning helps remove plaque. When you brush and floss your teeth every day, you also get rid of plaque. However, sometimes your daily routine is not enough to sufficiently clean your teeth. It is easy to miss spots between your teeth or close to your gum line.
This is what makes teeth cleanings necessary. If you miss spots while brushing your teeth, you won’t suffer major dental issues because of your dental cleanings. Your dental hygienist is trained to clean your teeth. With their tools and expertise, they can remove plaque more efficiently than you can do at home.
During your cleaning, your hygienist will use a scaler—a metal tool with a pointed end—to remove plaque behind your teeth and below the gum line. Next, they will floss your teeth using an effective technique. Then, they move to brush your teeth using a high-powered brush and a gritty toothpaste. When they perform this step, they remove any remaining plaque.
Not only does this step ensure healthy teeth, but you can also notice a whiter, brighter smile. This is because the brush and toothpaste help buff out surface stains, polishing your teeth. Removing these surface stains can give you a whiter smile.