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While proper home care is an important part of maintaining your oral health, regular professional dental cleanings are absolutely crucial; attending your professional dental cleanings helps maintain both your oral and overall health. Continue reading to learn seven notable benefits of regular dental cleanings.
1. A Bright and White Smile
During your dental cleaning, your dentist or hygienist will thoroughly clean the teeth using professional tools. This thorough cleaning will remove most superficial stains that may otherwise prove to be stubborn with at-home brushing, revealing a brighter and whiter smile.
2. Preventing Gum Disease
Bacteria lingers in the mouth in the form of plaque, a sticky film that is removed with brushing and flossing. When plaque is not properly removed, it hardens into a substance called tartar. Tartar is rock-hard, and in most cases, can not be removed without the help of a professional dental tool.
When plaque and tartar are allowed to remain in the mouth on the surface of the teeth and gums, the bacteria begin to multiply, creating a dangerous environment that promotes the development of gum disease. Gum disease occurs when harmful bacteria develop and multiply beneath the gum line, causing chronic infection and threatening the integrity of the bone. If not intervened with professional treatment, gum disease has the potential to cause:
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Unpleasant taste in mouth
- Loose teeth
- Tooth loss
- Pain and bleeding in gums
Practicing proper home care in conjunction with attending professional dental cleaning appointments are key factors in preventing gum disease; maintaining a clean and healthy environment inside the mouth helps regulate the bacteria content inside the mouth.
3. Keeping Cavities Away
Healthy teeth are beautiful teeth. The outer layer of the tooth – known as the enamel – is the hardest substance in the human body. It is responsible for protecting the more delicate inner layers of the tooth.
When the bacteria that is found inside plaque and tartar linger on the teeth, it begins to break down the enamel, weakening it and placing the tooth at risk for developing decay.
Keeping the teeth clean and free of plaque and tartar helps ensure that the protective layer of enamel is strong and able to protect the tooth from future damage or decay.
4. Detecting Dental Problems Early
A common misconception is that damage or decay is always accompanied by pain or discomfort; this is not always true. The truth is that even if you are not experiencing pain or discomfort, it is still possible for damage or decay to be present in the mouth.
During your cleaning and check-up appointments, both your dentist and dental hygienist will conduct thorough examinations to ensure that there are no signs of decay or damage, such as a newly-developed cavity or fracture.
Detecting dental problems at an early stage can help ensure that the problem can be quickly corrected before the issue is allowed to worsen or progress. If any dental problems are detected, your dental professionals will develop a treatment plan to swiftly and efficiently treat the issue.
It’s always best to take care of a dental issue before it worsens; even a simple cavity has the potential to worsen and eventually need a root canal or even an extraction to successfully treat the issue. Catching the issue before it progresses will save you time, money, and stress in the future.
5. Preventing Bad Breath
Bad breath is caused by bacteria in the mouth that resides in plaque and tartar. While brushing helps remove plaque from the surface of the teeth, tartar can not be removed without the use of professional dental tools; if there is tartar present in the mouth, it is possible to struggle with bad breath or an unpleasant taste in the mouth, even if you brush thoroughly twice each day.
During your regular cleanings, your hygienist will remove any tartar that has accumulated on the surface of the teeth, promoting a clean environment within the mouth and helping you avoid bad breath.
6. Reducing Staining
Certain foods, substances, and beverages have the potential to leave stains on the surface of the teeth. These foods, substances, and beverages include:
- Coffee and tea
- Red wine
- Tobacco products
- Soda
- Prescription medications
Avoiding the items listed above can help you avoid developing stains on the surface of the teeth. Brushing thoroughly twice daily will help prevent stains, and thorough professional dental cleaning can help remove set-in stains that may not be able to be lifted with regular brushing at home.
While minor or superficial stains can be lifted with a professional cleaning, some stains may be more deeply set, and may require a professional whitening session. Speak with your dental hygienist to determine if you are a candidate for teeth whitening.
7. Improving Your Overall Health
Your oral health is directly linked to the health of the rest of your body.
In fact, gum disease has been found to be linked to various health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, arterial blockages, and increased risk of stroke.
Since gum disease is an infection of the gum tissues, this places the rest of the body at risk of infection if proper treatment is not administered. If gum disease is allowed to progress, the patient faces the risk of the infection entering the bloodstream and traveling to the heart; this has the potential to cause dangerous and even life-threatening conditions.
Ensuring that you are attending your regular dental cleanings maintains a clean and healthy oral environment, improving your overall health and keeping you protected from developing health issues as a result of unregulated bacteria levels in the mouth.
Reza Dental Care: Modern Dentist in South Gate, CA
Moving forward with the information you have learned here, you will have a strong understanding of the importance of regular dental cleanings. Reza Dental Care is here to help you maintain a healthy and beautiful smile; we are proud to provide comprehensive dental care in South Gate, California. Searching for a “dentist near me”? Our team of professionals is here for you. For more information about dental cleanings in South Gate or to get scheduled for an appointment in our South Gate dental office, book an appointment online or give us a call at 323-547-8787.