Without a doubt, dental care in the United States can be quite expensive, often not accessible to those without a budget designated to keeping their teeth healthy. What if we told you that there is a secret to a healthy and affordable smile? Showing up for regular preventative dental care is your answer. Research proves time and again that regular teeth cleaning is an easy way to maintain a bright smile that will also support your oral and overall health.
In designing the course of action for your unique dental needs, Oxboro Family Dental strongly prioritizes your health and preventative measures. While we use general principles because they are effective, we also understand that each patient requires a different level of care, from basic to complex dental work. As your need for oral health intensifies, such as the development of gum disease, so do your dental cleanings. Here’s our guide with the best advice regarding dental cleanings:
Why The Need For Dental Cleanings?
Whether you have been visiting your dentist regularly or not, chances are you know the American Dental Association mantra by heart – brush at least twice a day, followed by flossing, possibly rinsing, and avoid sugar at all costs. If you are Oxboro Family Dental regular, you have heard us repeating these recommendations over and over again.
Here’s the kicker: even on the best day and the best of us, dentists included, disregard the golden rule from time to time. Another kicker: even if you are an ideal patient and never skip the perfect dental hygiene routine, you will still require professional dental cleanings. Why?
Plaque and tartar buildup is an open road to tooth decay and other serious oral health problems. Your diet might be the best and healthiest in the world, but the enemy will still find a way to accumulate on your teeth. Brushing your teeth twice a day will definitely prevent most plaque from hardening into tartar, but without professional dental cleanings, home brushing will not eliminate the problem altogether.
The plaque and tartar that was not taken care of through your home regimen will need professional help to conquer. Your dental hygienist has advanced tools and training in techniques that remove the buildup, something that you will not be able to achieve at home.
After a professional dental cleaning, you may notice your smile is brighter and whiter than before. However, there are other reasons that go beyond aesthetics why you should get regular dental cleanings. Regular professional dental cleanings and exams will prevent severe oral health concerns from developing, such as periodontitis (gum disease), oral cancer, gingivitis, or tooth decay.
Early detection not only guarantees full health rejuvenation and possibly preventing more serious issues from emerging, but it also saves you time and money that would be required for major dental work.
How Often Should You Get a Professional Dental Cleaning?
The golden standard that dentists recommend is to get your professional dental cleanings once every six months, which is what most dental insurance plans cover. However, in some cases patients might require more frequent visits, depending on their oral health condition.
After your preventive checkup, your dentist willl assess the health of your teeth and gums. If after a thorough examination they determine you are at an increased risk for periodontal disease, they might recommend more frequent routine visits, often every three to four months, to help you maintain and manage your dental health, which should prevent gum disease from occurring, or reoccuring as the same applies if you suffered from the disease in the past.
Your dental team, as we do at Oxboro Family Dental, might suggest the same recommendations if you suffer from a chronic illness or an ongoing disease that makes your oral health vulnerable. Certain conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, or heart disease, can compromise your oral health much faster. If you are categorized as one of those patients, you will benefit greatly from quaterly visits and dental cleanings.
Dental Hygiene At Home
Your oral health does not end with a bi-annual or more frequent dental checkups and cleanings. The most successful patients are the ones that carry on the legacy in their own homes, that is – they follow all the guidelines Oxboro Dental and American Dental Association recommend. Let’s outline them again:
- Brush your teeth thoroughly a minimum of twice a day, morning and night, for at least three minutes.
- Attempt to brush your teeth after each meal
- Floss your teeth twice a day or after each meal to get rid of and prevent food particles to reach difficult places
- You can rinse your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash
- If you suspect any type of inflammation, infection, or other oral concerns, contact Oxboro Dental right away. Conditions, such as excessive gum bleeding, pain, knocked out tooth, tooth sensitivity, and other bothersome signs are clear indication of something sinister happening inside your mouth.