It’s no secret that regular professional dental cleanings are important for oral health. These cleanings help eliminate build-up and stains on the teeth to ensure patients have bright, beautiful smiles. Dentists can clean the teeth much more thoroughly than people are able to on their own and remove much of the plaque and tartar near the gum line and between the teeth that people tend to miss during at-home brushing and flossing. In truth, though, dental cleanings offer far more benefits than simply keeping the teeth white and shiny.
Keeping an Eye Out for Dental Issues
When you visit a Dentist Office Near Me for regular cleanings, you’re also being proactive in keeping a range of dental problems at bay. At the time of those check-ups, dentists look for signs of tooth decay, bite problems, and other potential issues. From there, they can develop effective treatment plans to resolve those problems. Going to the dentist every six months as recommended allows the dentist to keep a regular check on your oral health so he or she can treat those issues as early as possible.
Protecting Against Gum Disease
Approximately half of Americans are diagnosed with gum disease at some point. Many more probably suffer from this condition but have yet to be diagnosed because they’re not visiting their dentist as needed. Gum disease can lead to receding gums, excessive bleeding of the gums, tenderness, oral infections, and persistent bad breath as well as other symptoms. If left untreated, gum disease can also cause deterioration of the jaw bones and tooth loss. Dentists offer a variety of treatments for gums disease and can even reverse the condition if it’s caught early enough.
Treating Cavities
Routine dental care helps with preventing tooth decay as well. Cavities are holes in the teeth caused by bacteria, build-up, food particles, and other threats that can be removed via professional dental cleanings. Though problems start off small and don’t cause serious issues in the beginning, they gradually grow. When they progress, those issues can cause the teeth to crumble and bring about significant pain. During twice-annual cleanings, dentists can spot the early signs of cavities and take care of them before they get worse.
Better Overall Health
Bacteria in the mouth, oral infections, and other dental issues have been linked to a variety of deeper illnesses, including malnourishment, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Problems with the teeth and gums can leave patients vulnerable to a long list of potential problems. Dentists can catch issues early on in their development when patients keep up with routine visits, allowing the dental experts to help keep those dangerous conditions at bay.
Maintaining Health through Dental Care
Brushing and flossing at home is an important component of oral health, but you can only do so much on your own. Visiting the dentist at least once every six months is a vital aspect of oral health. By extension, routine care can foster your overall well-being in many ways. From reducing the risk of cavities to protecting against dangerous medical conditions, dental cleanings are an effective part of a basic healthcare routine. However, it is also important that you find a good dentist to guide you in your oral care routine. You can visit this reliable dentist in Irvine to get started.