Periodic dental cleanings are essential for keeping your teeth healthy and sparkling. They can help remove plaque, bacteria, and other biofilm from your teeth, leading to tooth decay and other oral health issues. Dental hygienists use various techniques to clean your teeth, including using scalers, polishers, purified water, and ultrasonic waves. In general, professional dental cleanings are more thorough than those done at home (using over-the-counter products).
In this blog post, we give you six great reasons why you need a professional dental cleaning. Let's get started.
1) To Prevent Tooth Loss
The American Dental Association recommends that people have a dental check-up and cleaning every six months. Regular cleanings help prevent tooth loss by removing plaque and tartar from teeth. Plaque is a sticky film that forms on teeth and can cause cavities. Tartar is a hard, mineralized plaque that can only be removed with special dental tools. Over time, plaque and tartar can damage teeth and gums, leading to tooth decay and gum disease.
Your dentist will remove plaque and tartar through a process called scaling. Scale is a type of calculus that forms on the teeth due to the accumulation of bacteria, food debris, etc. The dentist will use a scaler to scrape it off of the teeth and make them sparkling clean.
2) To Uncover Brighter Smile
Food can discolor teeth over time. Some foods, such as red wine and coffee, can stain teeth in a relatively quick manner. Other foods, such as candy, can cause tooth staining in the short term. This is especially true if you eat many sugary or acidic foods. These foods can make your teeth look darker and dingy. Also, consumption of tobacco and smoking can aggravate the tooth discoloration issue.
Over time, foods cause teeth to become darker or yellow. If you notice that your teeth are becoming darker or yellow, it's important to schedule a dental cleaning. Your dentist will use special equipment to remove any food residue and stains from your teeth. This will help make your teeth brighter and whiter.
3) To Identify Signs of Fractures
Dental cleanings are important for more reasons than just preventing cavities. They are also important for identifying signs of more serious problems, like fractures, aka cracks. There are many reasons for a cracked tooth. One reason may be that the tooth has not been properly cared for and has developed cavities. When a cavity forms, the tooth's enamel begins to weaken and may eventually crack.
A tooth can also develop cracks if subjected to too much force. For example, if someone clenches their teeth together forcefully or grinds their teeth at night (a condition called Bruxism), the forces applied to the teeth can cause them to crack.
If a fracture is left untreated, it can worsen and lead to other dental problems. Cleanings help dentists catch these problems early on before they cause too much damage.
4) To Prevent Gum Diseases
There are two main types of gum disease: Gingivitis and Periodontitis. Gingivitis is the most common type and is often caused by a lack of dental cleanings. Factors, including poor oral hygiene, plaque build-up, and smoking, also cause Gingivitis.
If left untreated, Gingivitis can progress to more serious forms of gum disease, such as periodontitis. Periodontitis can lead to tooth loss if not treated. It is an inflammatory condition that affects the tissues that support the teeth. The bacteria that cause periodontal disease also produce toxins that can damage the bone and soft tissues around the teeth. The result is tooth loss and/or extensive damage to the supporting tissues. One can treat and reverse Gingivitis with regular dental cleanings from a qualified dentists in Palo Alto.
5) To Detect Signs of Oral Cancer
The American Cancer Society estimates that the United States may register about 11,230 deaths from either oropharyngeal cancer or oral cavity in 2022.
But worry not; dental cleanings can help detect the signs of oral cancer. Oral cancer is a type of cancer that affects the tissues inside the mouth. Symptoms can include a sore or lump in the mouth that does not heal, red or white patches in the mouth, pain when chewing, and tooth loss. Dental cleanings can help detect oral cancer by looking for signs of the disease, such as lumps or lesions inside the mouth.
Many patients in Palo Alto were able to detect the disease earlier, as their dentists were able to see the abnormalities in their mouth that indicated cancer.
6) To Boost Your Confidence
It is no secret that having a set of pearly-white teeth can make someone feel more confident. Dental cleanings can help you achieve that. Not only does it boost confidence socially, but it also has been shown to have a positive impact on overall mental health.
Sociologists say that teeth play a crucial role in our social lives. When we smile, our teeth are on display, and people tend to judge us based on our appearance. Poor oral hygiene can lead to bad breath and yellow teeth, making it difficult for you to socialize.
In contrast, people with healthy teeth appear more attractive to others and are often seen as being more confident and successful. This can lead to better social interactions and opportunities. Isn’t that we all want.
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