Getting in-office dental cleanings is an important part of maintaining good oral health. Many people skip their dental cleaning appointments due to fear and cost. Others cannot find a good dentist who will perform optimal teeth cleanings in Buffalo Grove. Some are too busy and cannot squeeze their dental appointments into their schedule.
While these may be genuine reasons, they also heighten your risk of developing oral health issues. Daily brushing and flossing can eliminate most of the plaque on your teeth. But the unremovhged plaque can harden into tartar over time, requiring professional cleaning.
What Happens During Your Routine Dental Visits
Your dental visit will start with an oral examination. X-rays of your mouth may be taken. The images can help your dentist make a diagnosis as they reveal abnormalities and problems not directly visible. After the examination, the dentist will proceed with the cleaning. Then will scrape off plaque and tartar and involve brushing your teeth using an electronic toothbrush and special toothpaste. Finally, the dentist will ask you to rinse your mouth with liquid fluoride to eliminate residual debris.
Importance of Dental Cleanings
In-office dental cleanings are important due to the following reasons:
- Detect issues early. During your dental visit, your dentist will check your mouth, including your teeth and gums. This allows them to detect issues early on, like tooth decay, dental cavities, broken fillings, and gum disease. Your dentist can address such issues immediately, preventing the need for more extensive and expensive treatment.
- Promote healthier gums. Mouth bacteria can form in pockets between your teeth. Plaque buildup leads to gingivitis and gum disease, which presents symptoms such as tenderness, inflammation, and bleeding. Professional dental cleaning will eliminate plaque and tartar, preventing gum disease.
- Eliminate tooth discoloration and stains. Plaque buildup and poor oral hygiene cause tooth discoloration and stains. These dental issues can also result from consuming certain foods and beverages and smoking. Dental cleanings will eliminate these dental flaws. After the procedure, you will leave your dentist’s office with brighter and whiter teeth. But if the discoloration or staining is serious enough, you can schedule a professional whitening procedure with your dentist.
- Preserve your teeth. When not detected and treated early, tooth decay can lead to tooth loss. This can happen as bacteria eat away at the enamel of your teeth and invade even the root canal. While root canal treatment may work for some patients, tooth extraction may be necessary for others. Also, oral health issues like gum disease may lead to deepening gum pockets, which can cause your teeth to become loose and fall out over time. You can avoid all these when you get your teeth cleaned by a dentist regularly.