Many people think that brushing their teeth twice a day and flossing after every meal is enough to maintain perfect dental health. They do not feel that an annual dental cleaning at their dentist’s is important to ensure that they have healthy gums and teeth. It is no surprise then that more than 80% of Americans have some sort of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease ranges from gum inflammation to damaging infections that affect the soft tissue and the bone supporting your teeth. The bacteria that live in our mouth and causes plaque mostly cause it. Regular brushing and flossing get rid of most plaque, however, plaque can hide in places and cause tartar that brushing cannot remove. If not removed professionally by a hygienist or a dentist, tartar can cause infection of the gums, cause teeth to become loose, cause gums to shrink and create infected spaces. Consequently, periodontitis can lead to many health issues.
The risk factors associated with periodontal disease are:
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- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Genetics
- Treatments/medications
- Hormonal changes in females
Professional Dental Cleaning
Factors like diabetes, hormonal changes and genetics are out of a person’s control and therefore are likely to affect dental health in most cases. However, factors like smoking and getting teeth professionally cleaned can be controlled. Those who smoke should try to reduce or do away with their habit and should make sure they see their dentist regularly for cleaning and examinations. During dental cleaning, most dentists offer multiple services that are diagnostic and preventive. The annual cleaning usually involves an x ray of the mouth to detect any decay or disease and a gum examination. Preventive services include removal of plaque and tartar and deep cleaning of any infected tissue. It is possible that during one of your dental cleaning visits, your dentist or hygienist discovers a dental health issue and advises you how to treat it before it becomes very serious. Moreover, those with gum problems caused by smoking, diabetes or a medical treatment can get advice from their dentist on how to best manage their oral/dental health.
Regular dental cleaning usually involves various steps including:
- using an ultrasonic instrument to get rid of the tartar,
- fine hand tools to scrape off the remaining tartar manually,
- polishing your teeth with a special dental paste to smooth teeth’s surfaces.
If your dentist or hygienist feels like you need to get a deep cleaning of your gums, you will have to schedule another, most probably longer, appointment to get rid of infected tissue. Many times during regular dental cleaning, patients and the dental professionals discover more dental problems such as shrinking infected gums or even worse, infected shrinking bone that holds the teeth.
Dental cleaning may seem like an added health precaution to take but in reality it is something that should be part of everyone’s health routine to maintain oral health. If you are looking for reliable and experienced dental professionals in the Irving, Texas area, Cosmetic and Family Dentistry of Las Colinas offers a unique patient-centered experience. Contact us today to discuss your dental health and we will make it our priority to offer you and your loved ones the perfect dental plan.
