Teeth cleanings are recommended once every six months under normal, healthy circumstances. However, as with all dental procedures, every patient presents with their own individual circumstances and risk factors for gum disease. Your dentist and dental hygienist will work together to recognize factors that could possibly compromise your teeth and the health of your mouth and develop a plan specific to your dental needs. This may require more frequent cleanings, a more intense cleaning or a specific regimen for your homecare procedures.
Regular cleanings by a dental professional are an important part of maintaining your oral health. In addition to getting your teeth cleaned at recommended intervals, you should practice proper oral hygiene habits at home. Brushing at least twice a day and flossing once a day prevents the buildup of bacteria that cause cavities, bad breath and gum disease.
During your recare visit, your dental hygienist will evaluate and recognize signs of inflammation, discuss the findings with your dentist and you, and develop an approach to help you achieve and maintain optimal oral health. In a healthy mouth, your hygienist will remove plaque and tartar buildup above and below the gumline. If the plaque and tartar debris is allowed to build up and remain around and below the gumline, it may lead to gum disease or periodontitis. Periodontitis is more advanced than gum disease, or inflammation of the soft tissues. Periodontal disease is caused by overgrowth and accumulation of dental plaque which causes disintegration of the bone around the teeth, forming pockets between your teeth and under your gums. The pockets are actively infected and will continue to deepen, causing the boney foundation to disintegrate and your teeth to become loose, putting you at risk for tooth loss. General dentistry and regular frequency of dental cleanings prevents periodontitis through the removal of soft plaque and hard calculus during a cleaning.
A routine dental cleaning can also improve the appearance of your smile by reducing surface staining. Over time, the cumulative staining effect of certain beverages and foods can cause your teeth to become discolored, and a cleaning, which includes polishing will take care of that.
For experienced and comprehensive dentistry in McLean, Virginia, please contact the general dentists at Galleria Dental Aesthetics today.