When you brush and floss your teeth twice every day, the ritual can become so ingrained that you do it automatically, without always thinking about it. Professional dental cleanings, however, are typically spaced out every six months, with enough space between them that they may not exactly feel routine. Nevertheless, professional care and maintenance is as important as daily hygiene. If you forget or neglect to attend a dental cleaning, then your toothbrush and floss might not be as effective as you think. Today, we explain the importance of regular dental cleanings, and the consequences of skipping one or more of them.
Controlling Oral Bacteria at Home
Over 600 identifiable kinds of bacteria inhabit a healthy mouth, and daily hygiene is aimed at controlling their population. Not all oral bacteria are dangerous to your oral health. However, some of these microbes undergo biological processes, such as metabolizing nutrients and dispelling waste that specifically harm oral tissues. When they accumulate, the bacteria produce sticky plaque to protect them from saliva and other oxygen-rich sources. Brushing and flossing helps limit the amount of bacteria present at any given time, reducing the risk of tooth decay, bad breath, gum disease, and other bacteria-caused dental issues.
Why Cleanings Are Necessary
When plaque remains on your teeth for more than 48 hours, it calcifies, or hardens, into an insoluble film called tartar. Since tartar does not dissolve in water, it’s impervious to brushing and flossing. Yet, if not removed, its presence will eventually lead to developing dental diseases. Attending a dental cleaning every six months will allow your dentist to thoroughly remove all traces of plaque and tartar from your teeth’s surfaces, above and below the gum line. Your dentist will also thoroughly inspect your mouth for early signs of tooth decay and gum disease, as well as perform a comprehensive screening to detect abnormalities that can indicate oral cancer.
Schedule Your Next Dental Cleaning with Us
Maintaining a regular schedule of cleaning and checkup appointments is essential to keeping your smile healthy and disease-free. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling the Sunny Smiles dental office nearest you in El Paso, TX, today! We have offices in the East, Northeast, and Westside of El Paso, and happily welcome patients from all nearby communities, including Chaparral, Canutillo, Vinton, and Sunland Park, New Mexico.