Getting a dental cleaning twice a year doesn’t only help maintain a shiny smile, it also prevents any oral problems to pop up and boosts dental health. We lay out the 3 reasons why you should never skip your biannual trip to the dentist.
It’s a chance to get a general checkup.
A dental cleaning will allow your dentist to examine the health of your teeth and gums. He or she will point out any signs of cavities, infections, or gingivitis (bleeding, inflamed or tender gums) and treat it on the spot or consult you on a treatment.
Poor oral hygiene is the primary cause behind gum disease and can cause tooth loss. That’s why it’s crucial to get your gums checked every 6 months and to stick to a proper dental routine for appropriate teeth care assigned by your dentist.
This dental visit is also an opportunity to point our any other issues that may affect oral health – such as faulty fillings or lesions.
Getting a checkup every 6 months will ultimately help prevent any serious problems to arise and allow your dentist to keep track of your dental health.
A dental cleaning will remove plaque and tartar.
Plaque is a colorless and sticky film that forms on the surface of your teeth and particularly around the gum line. This is caused by a buildup of bacteria and no matter how thoroughly you floss your teeth, you might still get plaque in hard-to-reach areas. When plaque is not regularly removed through dental cleanings, the bacteria can cause cavities and gum disease. It can also trigger tartar to form.
Tartar is formed when built-up plaque and saliva combine and harden into a yellowish-brown layer that cannot be scraped off at home. When left untreated for a long time, tartar can impact the aesthetic of your teeth and even cause tooth decay, a receding gum line, or gingivitis.
That’s when a professional cleaning comes in.
As you’ve probably noticed already, the plaque removal process takes the most time. Your dentist scrapes off the plaque using a scaler; it’s a sharp tool that can reach the tightest spots in your front and back teeth.
After scraping, your teeth get polished and flossed.
Once your dentist is done scraping off plaque or tartar, they’ll proceed with polishing your teeth using a mildly abrasive toothpaste and a polishing tool. This combination will give your teeth an extra shine and remove any residue left behind during scraping.
A grainy toothpaste should only be used during professional dental cleanings. That said, make sure you’re not harsh on your teeth while brushing them at home. This can cause tooth sensitivity, gum recession, or other dental health problems.
After scraping and polishing, the dentist will usually run a floss through your teeth to remove any debris or toothpaste residue. They’ll also use the floss to clean out certain tight spots that you might have trouble locating on your own. When your dentist is flossing your teeth, he or she can also point out if your gums begin to bleed in certain areas. The more regularly you floss at home, the less you’ll bleed.
We hope those reasons are enough to get yourself checked twice a year and maintain a healthy smile and proper teeth care techniques all year round.