Why Dental Cleanings Are About More Than Just Polishing Your Teeth
The Importance of Dental Cleanings
Parmer Lane Family Dentistry in Austin, Texas, wants to remind our readers that biannual dental checkups are crucial to a healthy mouth. Many people think that seeing the dentist every six months is about getting a professional cleaning to help make your teeth sparkle. That is true but it isn’t the whole picture. Seeing your dentist every six months is about preventative dental care and that leads to overall better dental and systemic health. Read on to find out why it is so important to make sure you are seeing the Parmer Lane Family Dentistry team twice a year.
Key Benefits of Dental Cleanings
A professional dental cleaning is part of a biannual dental evaluation. But there is more to it than just polishing your teeth so they feel shiny and new. While dental cleanings are critical to a healthy mouth, there are other reasons your dentist wants you to get a dental cleaning every six months.
Plaque and Tartar Removal
Even if you are brushing your teeth a minimum of two times a day for at least two minutes each time, and flossing once a day, there is still a chance for plaque and tartar to build up on your teeth. And, if left to its vices, this can lead to cavities and tooth decay. That is why a professional dental cleaning is essential to healthy teeth. A dentist’s tools can reach where your toothbrush and flosser may not, and these professional tools can remove any built-up plaque and tartar that is on your teeth.
Prevention of Gum Disease
Gum disease is what happens when the gums become irritated and inflamed thanks to a buildup of bacteria. A proper brushing and flossing routine will help prevent gum disease.
In its earliest phase, gum disease is known as gingivitis. This is when the gums become irritated and may bleed when you’re brushing or flossing. If gingivitis is left untreated, it can turn into periodontitis. During this phase, the gums can actually pull away from the teeth, creating pockets for even more bacteria to collect in and eventually causing the teeth to loosen. The infection can also get into the jaw bone and the tooth itself and can lead to eventual tooth loss if left untreated.
At a biannual dental checkup, your dentist can make sure your teeth and gums are healthy and there are no signs of gum disease. If there are signs, your dentist can give your teeth a deep cleaning and give you pointers on better brushing and flossing to prevent the spread of gum disease.
Early Detection of Oral Issues
Prevention is key to catching dental issues, which is why visiting Parmer Lane Family Dentistry in Austin every six months is important to your dental health. Routine dental evaluations can catch a variety of dental issues early, including cavities, gum disease, and even oral cancer. Through a thorough evaluation by your dentist, along with dental X-rays, your dental team can detect dental issues early before they become larger issues.
Fresh Breath and Confidence
A biannual dental cleaning is a chance for you to have a mini makeover for your mouth. Not only will you get a thorough evaluation to check for any dental issues, but you will get a tooth polishing and deep clean that will help eliminate excess bacteria in your mouth and have you feeling fresh and brand new. You’ll want to show off those dazzling teeth and you’ll get a boost of confidence in return.
Support for Overall Health
Your mouth is the gateway to many other systems in your body, including your digestive tract, lungs, and your heart. If you aren’t taking care of your teeth and gums, the excess bacteria can get into your bloodstream and cause havoc in other parts of your body. This is why poor oral health is linked to conditions such as poor heart health and diabetes. Keeping your oral health in check will also help you keep your overall health in better standing.
Visit Parmer Lane Family Dentistry every six months.
A proper oral health routine is just one way of keeping your teeth and mouth healthy. Having biannual dental checkups that include complete dental evaluations, dental X-rays, as well as a dental polishing, will have your mouth feeling fresh and new. Preventative dentistry checkups will help ensure you don’t have any hidden dental issues, like the start of a cavity or any signs of gum disease. These biannual checkups are a great way to make sure your mouth is happy and healthy, and you are doing everything needed to keep your dental health up to par.
If you haven’t been to Parmer Lane Family Dentistry lately, give us a call to schedule an evaluation today!
