Gum disease is an oral health issue that a lot of Americans deal with. It develops when a plaque hardens into tartar and accumulates around your teeth and triggers a bacterial infection. When not treated promptly, the disorder can lead to severe inflammation, tooth loss, and receding gums. But this serious issue can be prevented with proper oral hygiene. Apart from tooth brushing and flossing, regular Bismarck teeth cleaning is a vital strategy to reduce plaque and tartar buildup.
Benefits of Dental Cleanings
Here’s what regular dental cleanings at your dentist’s office can do for you:
- Review your oral hygiene practices. Once your dentist checks your teeth, they can tell if you are doing your dental routine right. Also, they can tell you how to best keep your teeth and mouth healthy.
- Prevent or reduce the risk of gum disease. Your dentist can do a deep cleaning to get rid of stubborn plaque and prevent the development of gum disease.
- Minimize or prevent bad breath. A professional teeth cleaning will eliminate bacteria and plaque that can cause foul breath. In turn, you will always enjoy a lasting fresh breath.
- Brighten your teeth. If you regularly consume beverages that can discolor your teeth, such as coffee, tea, or wine, a thorough teeth cleaning can keep your teeth bright. Your dentist can get rid of stubborn stains, restoring the beautiful smile you always have.
- Prevent cavities. As with gum disease, cavities develop when harmful bacteria and plaque build around your teeth. Regular dental cleanings can minimize and prevent the development of this bacteria, preventing cavities.
How Often Should You Get a Professional Teeth Cleaning?
If you do not have gum disease, you should get a dental cleaning every six months. But if you have this disease, you should see your dentist once every three months. During your appointments, the dentist can do deep cleaning like scaling or root planning in your mouth’s affected parts.
What to Expect During Teeth Cleaning?
During your dental cleaning appointment, your dentist or hygienist will make use of a special tool for scraping plaque and tartar that have developed below and around the gum line. Also, they will insert a probe under the gum line meant to measure the depth of pockets that may have formed between the gums and teeth, which mainly indicate gum disease.
If your target buildup is significant, your dentist will do deep cleaning, which includes scaling or root planning to get rid of the tartar that has built up deeply below the gums. After your cleaning procedure is completed, your dentist will review how you are brushing and flossing your teeth at home. They can give you advice on how to do these procedures more effectively.
