The Importance of Professional Teeth Cleaning
It's hard keeping up with everyday life. So scheduling appointments twice a year for professional dental cleanings can seem like an easy place to cut corners, especially when you practice perfect oral hygiene every day. However, these preventive visits play a crucial role in protecting your oral and overall health, even when you do your part to keep your teeth squeaky clean.
Our team at The Dental Touch Oakland in California offers general and cosmetic dental services. They provided these insights into the importance of professionalteeth cleanings and how skipping this dental visit can put you at risk.
Eliminates plaque
We know, we know - you brush and floss like a champ! However, that doesn't mean you don't have plaque buildup on your teeth or under your gums.
The tricky thing about plaque is that it's clear and sticky, making it difficult to remove from each nook and cranny in your mouth. Unfortunately, it is also the primary cause of tooth decay and can erode your enamel when ignored.
Enamel is the hard, outermost coating on your teeth. When plaque damages your enamel, you can develop cavities. But that's not all. Plaque can also penetrate your gum line, increasing your chances of gum disease. This serious soft tissue infection can destroy supporting structures in your teeth and put you at risk of tooth loss.
Estimates show that 178 million Americans have lost at least one tooth, and approximately 40 million have lost them all.
Removes stubborn stains
Just like plaque can build up despite the most diligent brushing, you can also develop staining and discoloration that require professional attention.
Unfortunately, teeth are highly susceptible to stains, especially from seemingly harmless everyday activities, like drinking coffee, tea, colas, or having a glass of red wine with dinner. This occurs because of the pigments these substances contain, which can build up on the surface of your enamel.
During a professional cleaning, we use a special toothpaste and brush to polish your teeth that can effectively remove these stains, leaving you with a brighter smile and fresher breath.
Protects your overall health
It's easy to think that a dental visit only involves your mouth. However, your mouth isn't a separate island - it's connected to the rest of your body. That means that anything related to your oral health can impact your entire body.
Believe it or not, your oral health can actually provide deep insight into your overall health, especially if you have gum disease. That's because if you have high levels of bacteria in your mouth, it can move throughout your body, putting you at risk of numerous diseases, such as:
- Respiratory conditions, like pneumonia
- Cardiovascular disease
- Endocarditis (heart infection)
- Premature birth and low birth weight
Similarly, having underlying health conditions can also impact your oral health. As a result, you should talk to your dentist about preventive dental care if you have diseases like diabetes, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, or HIV/AIDS.
Do you remember your last professional cleaning? If it's been six months or longer, it's time to schedule a visit. Contact The Dental Touch Oakland by calling 510-328-7799 or booking online today.
