Getting teeth cleaning is an excellent way of maintaining dental hygiene and eliminating the risk of developing other oral health-related problems. Therefore, it’s essential to understand the need for a dental cleaning always to ensure healthy teeth and a beautiful smile.
What is teeth cleaning?
In simple terms, teeth cleaning is an essential oral hygiene aspect involving plaque removal from teeth to prevent various dental problems such as periodontal disease, gingivitis, and dental caries. Typically, people will brush their teeth to maintain dental hygiene. However, the hardened tartar on the teeth is usually removed by a dentist.
Before teeth cleaning is done, the dentist must first examine the patient’s mouth either through periodontal screening or X-rays to check for bleeding, inflammation, or sensitivity on the gums. After this, the dentist uses ultrasonic instruments and scalers to get rid of tartar. Immediately after cleaning, the dentist polishes the teeth and applies fluoride treatment for teeth strengthening. Generally, there are 4 types of teeth cleaning procedures: scaling and root planing, prophylaxis cleaning, gross debridement, and periodontal maintenance.
Benefits of teeth cleanings
Teeth cleaning plays a significant role in maintaining dental hygiene. Experts recommend that people should visit a dentist at least twice a year to have their teeth cleaned. This helps prevent severe dental problems and assists in detecting dental problems before they get worse. Below are some top benefits of dental cleanings:
- Prevent gum disease
When a dentist is undertaking the teeth cleaning procedure, removal of plague is among the top things that he or she will do. The buildup of plaque in teeth results in the accumulation of tartar that, over time, hardens and leads to tooth decay. Over time, if this plague isn’t removed, it starts producing some acids that destroy the enamel resulting in cavities. On the other hand, plaque buildup in teeth also gives way for bacteria to affect your gums. A dentist will remove plague and thus eliminate the risk of gum disease.
- Early detection of dental-related issues
When you visit your dentist for teeth cleaning, screening is usually done first to check the condition of jaws, roots, and teeth. This is very important because it’s easy for the dentist to see other problems that might be developing. Additionally, this dental screening also assists in checking for other issues such as developing tumors, infections, and dangerous cysts. Early detection of these dental problems is very important because it can assist in reversing the problem immediately without a lot of effort and stress.
- Prevents tooth loss
Accumulation of plague in your mouth results in gum disease. Over time, the gum disease further advances where it destroys teeth supporting bone. This loosens the teeth and can make them pull off easily, especially when eating. Regular cleaning will help in preventing tooth loss.
- Reduces bad breath
No matter how many times you brush your teeth daily, there’s still some plague that will buildup, especially on areas your toothbrush can’t reach. This plague buildup causes bacterial growth that causes bad breath. Therefore, if you have regular teeth cleanings, the accumulated plague will be eliminated together with the bad breath causing bacteria.
- Improves overall body health
If you have plaque buildup in your mouth, there are higher chances of losing your teeth. Additionally, the bacteria that develop on this plague can bring a lot of other health-related problems and diseases. First, studies show that gum disease increases the risk of developing heart disease. This happens as a result of gum bacteria that narrows the arteries. Gum bacteria causes an infection called endocarditis that destroys the inner heart lining. Secondly, mouth bacteria can also result in bronchitis and pneumonia when it finds its way to the lungs. Recent studies show that gum disease worsens inflammation in the lungs.
- Saves money
Regular teeth cleaning will save you a lot of money in the long run. If you regularly undertake teeth cleanings, you’ll always have good oral hygiene, meaning that you won’t develop dental problems that require huge amounts of money to treat or make replacements.
In conclusion, these are the top benefits of teeth cleanings. If you haven’t started it, it’s essential to get started immediately and give your family good dental hygiene that will make them happy and maintain their beautiful smiles.