4 Benefits of Professional Teeth Cleaning from a Family Dentist

In addition to brushing and flossing, it is important to have regular cleanings from the family dentist no matter your age. According to the American Dental Association, teeth cleanings should be done twice a year unless additional checkups are recommended.
Dental cleaning procedure
During a dental cleaning, a family dentist will typically begin by doing a physical exam of the mouth, taking X-rays and performing a periodontal screening. These screenings check gums for inflammation, bleeding and sensitivity. After the exam, tartar will be removed from the teeth using scalers and ultrasonic instruments. Once the teeth have been cleaned, the dentist will polish them with a hand tool and may apply a fluoride treatment to strengthen the teeth.
Important benefits of dental cleanings
In addition to keeping smiles looking bright, these professional teeth cleanings boast many benefits to both oral and general health. Here are four reasons why professional dental cleanings are important.
1. Detect dental problems early
During a cleaning with the family dentist, patients may receive X-rays to check the condition of the teeth, roots and jaw for problems that cannot be seen with an oral exam. These X-rays show the position of the teeth and can help determine if there is a need for braces, as well as showing if there are any infections, cysts or tumors.
2. Prevent cavities and gum disease
During dental cleanings, plaque is removed. If plaque is left to build up, it can harden into tartar and cause tooth decay. The bacteria in plaque produce acids that eat away at tooth enamel, which can eventually lead to cavities if not removed.
Gum disease is caused by a buildup of plaque that allows bacteria to infect gums around and below the gumline. During a cleaning, the family dentist removes the plaque and reduces the risk of patients developing an infection or gum disease.
3. Prevent bad breath
Often halitosis, or bad breath, is caused by underlying dental issues or plaque. Plaque harbors unpleasant-smelling bacteria, creating a bad breath problem.
4. Improve overall health
Untreated gum infections and cavities can lead to the loss of a tooth, but the issues do not end there. Oral conditions that allow bacteria to thrive can contribute to various diseases or health problems.
Gum disease can potentially increase heart disease risk because the bacteria in the gum may lead to the narrowing of arteries. Endocarditis is an infection that affects the inner lining of the heart and usually is caused by bacteria that spread through the bloodstream from another part of the body, such as the gums.
Bacteria in the mouth can be pulled into the lungs to cause bronchitis or even pneumonia. Gum disease can also worsen chronic lung diseases such as asthma by causing inflammation of the airways. As well, untreated gum infections in pregnancy have been linked to premature labor.
Conclusion
Preventative dental care is vital to oral health. It can help identify problems early in development and help patients maintain a happy smile.
Request an appointment here: https://www.mytotaldentistry.com or call McCarthy Dentistry at (740) 546-5178 for an appointment in our Marietta office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.
Recent Posts
Many families with adolescents in need of straighter smiles are opting for Invisalign® for teens over traditional braces. Braces use wires and frequent adjustments to straighten each tooth individually. Invisalign clear aligners straighten all the teeth at once and are swapped out for new ones about every two weeks during the process. These aligners are…
If you and your child are interested in an alternative to traditional braces, Invisalign® may be just what you are looking for. It is just as effective at straightening teeth as traditional braces but has certain qualities that make it more tolerable for teenagers.It is usually preferable to wait to delay teeth straightening treatment until…
A general dentist is often the first to inform parents that a teenage patient needs braces. As an orthodontic option, Invisalign® for teens can produce results in just a few months with minimal discomfort. This process can work to straighten teeth that are out of line, crooked, or twisted, and there may be no need…
Like many young people, your teenager may have crooked teeth or bite problems that need correcting. Your dentist may recommend Invisalign® as a treatment option for your teen. Maybe you are familiar with traditional braces — perhaps you wore them yourself when you were younger. However, Invisalign can correct your teen's orthodontic issues while offering…