Keeping your teeth clean can mean keeping it looking great and feeling healthy, but the importance of maintaining a regular schedule of professional dental cleanings goes even further. The important role of professional cleanings, as well as cleaning your teeth at home, is to prevent the accumulation of harmful oral bacteria in the form of plaque on the surface of your teeth. A buildup of plaque contains bacteria that can produce harmful substances that can damage your teeth and/or gum tissue. Regular cleanings can help limit the harm to your smile by clearing away the harmful bacteria. Professional dental cleanings can clean your mouth beyond what you are capable of at home to prevent dangerous oral health issues.
Limitations of Your Home Routine
When you have a strong oral hygiene routine at home, it means that brush and floss your teeth effectively at least twice a day. Regular brushing and flossing can help you to remove the majority of harmful bacteria that gather on them every day. If you miss a spot of plaque during your hygiene routine, the plaque can calcify (harden) into tartar. Even a tiny area of tartar can contain enough dangerous oral bacteria and eventually lead to tooth decay or gum disease. If you are consistently missing an area of your mouth during your hygiene routine, your dentist or hygienist will be able to give you tips on how to effectively reach that area of your smile.
Prevention is Key
Some oral health issues like tooth decay and gum disease, can be treated, but the condition itself cannot be reversed except in the earliest stages. Any damage that either issue causes to your tooth structure and gum tissues is permanent, which makes prevention through good hygiene and regular dental cleanings so important. Routine cleanings and checkups with your dentist can make it so that the earliest stages of tooth decay or gum disease can be identified for reversal.
When was your last cleaning?
A dental cleaning can keep your smile healthy. To schedule a consultation with Smith Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX call us at 903-455-5750. We proudly serve patients from Hunt County, Greenville, Royce City, Sulphur Springs, and all surrounding communities.