Why are Teeth Cleaning Visits Important?
When’s the last time you saw the dentist? According to the American Dental Association, you should schedule a teeth cleaning every 6 months to reduce your risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and other issues that compromise oral health.
During your appointment, we not only clean your teeth but take X-rays, screen for oral cancer, and diagnose any oral health issues.
Protect Your Health
Did you know your ? For example, people with diabetes are susceptible to gum disease because their gum and bone tissue have difficulty resisting infection. Your dentist may also be able to spot signs of osteoporosis, eating disorders, and even heart disease after examining your teeth.
Before your dental cleaning, we may ask you to update your medical history. We then use this medical history to evaluate your risk factors for injury and disease. For example, people who smoke are at higher risk for oral cancer. Fortunately, we can do an oral cancer screening during your next appointment so any cancer is caught in its early stages.
Save Money
Don’t wait until you’re in unbearable pain before calling our office. A filling is less expensive than an emergency root canal. If you ignore dental pain, there’s also the chance we may not be able to save the tooth.
The is to help you avoid tooth decay, gum disease, and other problems. However, we can’t help you maintain a healthy smile if you never schedule teeth cleanings.
Remove Plaque and Tartar
Brushing and flossing teeth at home isn’t enough to fully protect your oral health. Dental plaque loves to hide where toothbrush bristles can’t reach. Fortunately, we’re able to clean above and below the gum line so you can maintain a healthy smile.
It’s important that you see your dentist every 6 months so they can remove plaque and tartar from your teeth. Only a dental professional can remove tartar.
Detect Cavities Early
Your dentist will be able to detect small cavities during your appointment so you can maintain a healthy smile. During your appointment, a dental hygienist will be able to look at your teeth and gums and take dental X-rays.
If you have a toothache, schedule an appointment with our emergency dentist. A painful tooth could indicate a cavity or gum infection. Left untreated, the infection from a cavity may enter the bloodstream and cause further health complications.
Avoid Gum Disease
Did you know 47.2% of Americans age 30 and older have periodontal disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention? While gum inflammation (gingivitis) is reversible, the same can’t be said once it progresses into periodontitis.
Gum disease is caused by untreated dental plaque and tartar buildup. Fortunately, we’re able to remove plaque and tartar during your to reduce your risk of gum disease.
Need another reason to go to the dentist? Once plaque hardens into tartar, it can only be removed by a dental professional. Call our dental practice today to schedule your appointment.
Protect Teeth as You Age
Your dentist can help you protect teeth as you age. Just because you reach a certain age doesn’t mean you have to accept wearing dentures. Many people are able to keep their original teeth by seeing their dentist every 6 months for their routine teeth cleaning.
It’s not uncommon for the nerves in our teeth to shrink as we get older. Unfortunately, this also means that we may not be able to detect the pain from a cavity as quickly as when we were younger. During your dental cleaning appointment, we’ll take X-rays so even small cavities are detected early.
Request a Teeth Cleaning Appointment
Our dentists in Grand Rapids, MI, and their team would be more than happy to help you maintain a healthy smile. To schedule an appointment with us, call Renew Family Dental at (616) 245-3205.
This blog post has been updated.