Having a professional hygiene cleaning performed can go a long way towards reducing the risk of developing gum disease and cavities, but how often should you schedule a teeth cleaning?
Your dentist would probably recommend that you have your teeth professionally cleaned twice per year and this can be easily fitted around your regular 6-monthly dental check-up to save you some time on booking extra appointments. However, sometimes it may pay you to attend more regularly just to have your teeth cleaned if you are particularly concerned with your oral health or have any ongoing dental issues. It may also be the case with your dental practice that they don’t perform dental cleaning after every check-up unless you specifically ask them to.
Plaque Returns Quickly After a Teeth Cleaning
A professional teeth cleaning helps to remove plaque and tartar build-up on teeth that is particularly stubborn and resistant to regular brushing at home or from an area that is hard to reach with a toothbrush. A clean will also remove the bacteria that causes plaque to build up from around the gum line, but it soon begins to re-colonise in as little as 24 to 48 hours after your dental clean.
Even the most meticulous of dental brushing with toothpaste followed by a mouthwash rinse twice per day will only slow down the build up of plaque bacteria but not prevent it entirely, especially between the teeth and in hard to reach areas. Once plaque has built up on your teeth is will calcify, meaning it will be impossible to remove by yourself. This is when you will need the specialist tools and the skills of your dentist or dental hygienist to remove with a deep clean.
By having at least a twice-a-year dental clean you are less likely to get a heavy build up of plaque and tartar that can put you at risk of gum disease.
Spotting Problems Early
Having regular teeth cleaning between check-ups can also act as an early warning system for your dentist to spot signs of issues that could be potentially worse than a build up of plaque. During a deep clean the hygienist may discover signs of new cavities developing, evidence of receding gums, or even signs of anaemia or bleeding gums that could be an indication of another health problem.
Since there has been a proven link between gum disease and cardiovascular health, catching problems as early as possible can help you to take steps to lower your risks of developing heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Your dentist may prompt you to book a visit with your GP that could potentially save your life!
The Cosmetic Side of Teeth Cleaning
Having a warm and healthy smile is very important for most people. Having healthy teeth and a friendly smile can give you great self-confidence, especially if you work in an industry where you are meeting people face-to-face and want to create the best impression.
Regular teeth cleaning with the hygienist can become an important part of keeping your teeth looking healthy and sparkling clean. Having a regular clean and polish can help to keep teeth staining from drinking tea and coffee at bay as well ensuring your teeth look and feel their best at all times.
Booking regular teeth cleaning sessions with the hygienist will mean that there will be less plaque and tartar build up to remove at each session. This means that your regular cleaning appointments will become easier and more gentle. Hygienists are compassionate professionals and are aware that sometimes the cleaning process can feel a little uncomfortable, especially if you have not had one in a long time and that more cleaning work needs to be done. Having more regular cleaning sessions will result in kinder treatments that can actually be quite enjoyable! To find out more visit the website.
