Do we really need professional dental cleaning when we brush our teeth regularly anyway? The short answer is yes.
Regular brushing is an important part of our oral care, but it is not enough to keep our teeth and gums plaque-free.
While brushing removes surface debris and bacteria, it’s not always easy to clean certain areas between our teeth and along the gumline. Plaque, a sticky film of bacteria, can accumulate in these hard-to-reach spots, leading to cavities and gum disease. Hardened plaque (also called tartar or calculus) is impossible to remove by brushing alone.
Here are three benefits of routine oral hygiene visits.
Your dental hygienist has the training and tools to remove plaque buildup.
During the “scaling” part of your scale and polish (cleaning) appointment, your hygienist uses a special instrument uses to remove any hard deposits of plaque and tartar that have accumulated on your teeth and under your gum line. “Polishing” removes surface stains and leaves your teeth smooth to help protect them from further plaque buildup.
You get your gum health checked every time you visit your hygienist.
Much of the tissue damage caused by gum disease happens without noticeable signs. Your dental hygienist uses a probe to measure the depth of the space between your gums and teeth – your gum pockets. Gum probing helps evaluate the effectiveness of your existing gum disease treatment or identify any recurrence. When necessary, you will be referred to one of our periodontists, the dental specialists in all types of gum disease treatments.
You will get tailored advice for a more effective oral hygiene regimen.
We are all unique. We have different lifestyles, habits, and health risk factors, and this is why there’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to oral care. Your dental hygienist will help guide you with personalized product recommendations or techniques to improve the effectiveness of your oral hygiene routine.
The American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend that adults and children get a cleaning every six months. It is a simple, pain-free, and cost-effective way of preventing oral health problems.
If you haven’t seen your dentist or hygienist for a long time, please give us a call. We hope to see you soon!
