There are a lot of people that think regular dental cleanings aren’t worth it and even needed. Unfortunately, this is far from the truth and leaves them open to numerous health risks. One of these risks is gum disease which affects 50% or more of Americans. Even with brushing your teeth at home, gum disease still occurs.
This is why dentists recommend regular dental cleanings and exams to ensure your oral health is in top condition. Regular cleanings allow your dentist to catch problems before they become worse and to adjust your treatment to address these problems. Plus, dental cleanings are not expensive when compared to many other health services, even without insurance.
How Dental Cleaning Prevents Gum Disease And Other Oral Health Issues
Dentists recommend brushing your teeth at least twice per day and to floss at least once per day. This is easily achievable in a perfect world, but we don’t live in a perfect world. Sometimes people get so busy they feel like they don’t have time to brush twice a day, or they get so busy and tired that they completely forget to brush their teeth. It happens.
Unless you have a perfect, routine habit of brushing and flossing, you are still likely to have plaque buildup. Plaque is a mostly colorless, filmy-like layer on your teeth that can harden and turn into tartar. Even with brushing and flossing, hard to reach areas can still have plaque buildup.
When plaque doesn’t get removed entirely, it forms tartar. This is often what causes a yellow or brown color on your teeth. It can also lead to receding gum lines and even complete tooth loss. Having plaque and tartar buildup are also good at trapping bacteria in your mouth which can cause gum disease.
Regular brushing won’t remove tartar and some plaque buildup. This is where professional dental cleanings come in. These cleanings involve specialized tools designed to remove the buildup of both plaque and tartar. This will drastically increase your oral health while decreasing your risks for developing things like gum disease.
How Often You Should Get A Dental Cleaning
Most dentists will recommend that you get a dental cleaning at least once, sometimes twice per year. Monthly dental cleanings aren’t really needed. If your oral health is that severe, you’ll likely end up having more specialized dental care like restorative dentistry. However, if you’ve had a history of periodontal disease, or gum disease, then your dentist may recommend more frequent cleanings to prevent future occurrences.
Your dentist may also recommend more frequent cleaning if you have other chronic conditions like diabetes. Diabetes, especially if not controlled very well, can make maintaining good oral health more difficult. It will also put you at a higher risk of developing gum disease. Another chronic condition that may require you to have more frequent dental cleanings is heart disease or other cardiovascular disease.
Getting your recommended number of dental cleanings each year plus proper brushing and flossing at home will also reduce the likelihood of a “deep cleaning”. A deep dental cleaning is generally more expensive than a normal one, and involves scaling and root planing. While a routine dental cleaning is relatively pain free and only causes slight discomfort, a deep cleaning can be a lot more uncomfortable.
The Best Dental Cleaning Near Me
If you’re looking for the #1 choice for the best dental cleaning in Keller, Texas, then Pickett Family Dental is the perfect choice for you. Not only will you receive the best dental care, but we take the time to get to know you and your specific oral health needs. We can go over a great dental care plan that includes treatments at our dentist office as well as measures to take at home. Contact us today to schedule your dental cleaning.
