According to the CDC, 31.6% of adults have untreated dental cavities. Meanwhile, 16.9% of children have untreated cavities. Without prompt treatment, these caries could lead to more detrimental teeth issues, such as gum disease.
Don’t leave your smile struggling!
Instead, discover the top six reasons you should never miss a dental cleaning. By scheduling regular cleanings, you can keep yourself happy and healthy.
Brighten your smile with these six benefits!
Signs To See Your Dentist More Often
You might think you’re seeing your dentist enough already. Sometimes, however, every six months isn’t often enough. By keeping track of your own oral health, you can maintain good oral hygiene while getting the additional help you need.
Sometimes, it’s an issue of your toothbrush. In other cases, you need to reevaluate your brushing technique. Recognizing the problem can help you discover the solution to maintaining your overall oral health.
Here are a few signs you need to visit your dentist more often:
- Your teeth are starting to stain more easily
- You develop plaque or tartar quickly after eating
- Flossing is difficult and troublesome
- The dental or orthodontic appliances you’re using aren’t working
- You develop cavities easily
Not everyone requires the same oral care. If you’re noticing any of these signs, schedule a check-up. Make sure to speak to your dentist about the issues you’re experiencing.
They can point you in the right direction for better oral care.
6 Benefits of Regular Dental Cleanings
Oral diseases are the most common noncommunicable diseases. They affect people for a lifetime by causing pain, disfigurement, and eventually death.
Instead of developing oral disease, schedule a regular dental cleaning. A dental exam can assess your oral health and help you discover the treatments you need.
1. Prevent Tooth Decay
Getting your teeth reviewed during your annual check-up can help prevent tooth decay. During your check-up, the dental hygienist will remove the plaque and tartar that’s built up against your teeth. This maintenance can decrease your chances of developing tooth decay.
During your annual check-up, your dentist goes beyond cleaning your teeth. They’ll also examine your teeth and pinpoint any early signs of decay.
Noting signs of decay as early as possible can ensure you get the treatment you need.
The longer these problems have time to develop, however, the more detrimental it is for your dental health.
2. Whiten Your Smile
Do you ever feel embarrassed by your smile? A little yellowing, a chipped tooth, or crooked teeth can make you feel self-conscious about those once-pearly whites.
Instead of hiding your smile, schedule a dental cleaning.
Attending your twice-annual dental exam can help whiten your smile. While brushing your teeth at home keeps your teeth clean, a dentist can go above and beyond to keep your teeth white.
Over time, coffee, wine, and smoking cause stains. Cleaning will remove the surface staining that builds up between check-ups. However, a dentist can also offer additional dental services, such as teeth whitening, to brighten your smile.
That way, you won’t have to feel embarrassed the next time everyone’s grinning in pictures.
3. Prevent Gum Disease
Over time, plaque can build up against your teeth. This causes bacteria to grow within your mouth, which can lead to gum disease and tooth loss.
Don’t let time create gaps in your smile!
Instead, prevent gum disease by visiting your dentist regularly. During your check-up, they can evaluate your gum health and check for disease. Regular cleanings can also prevent plaque from building up over time.
Otherwise, you’re left defenseless against gum disease.
You’ll even need to visit a special doctor to remedy the problem, which can get costly.
4. Screen for Cancer
In addition to gum disease, you should also remain aware of the possibility of developing oral cancer.
While they’re examining your teeth, your dentist can screen for oral cancer. Your chances of developing oral cancer are even more likely if you use tobacco. The HPV virus can cause oral cancers as well.
By checking in with your dentist regularly, you can make sure you haven’t developed oral cancer. If you have, you can get the treatment you need before the cancer cells spread.
5. Fresher Breath
Do you ever check your break before a date? Instead of worrying about your breath on a regular basis, check with your dentist. An oral cleaning can help you improve your overall oral health.
When your oral health improves, your breath will as well.
Plaque and tartar are two of the reasons your breath can start to sour. Removing plaque and tartar from your teeth can keep an odor-causing bacteria at bay.
As a result, you’ll have minty-fresh breath and a cleaner smile before your next date.
6. Top Off Your Toothbrush
You can have the best toothbrush in the world. Unfortunately, even if you brush twice a day, that’s sometimes not enough. You’ll still need a professional dental hygienist or dentist to give your teeth a look.
Their professional tools can clean your teeth more efficiently.
They also know which problems to look for. While you can’t get an up-close and personal view of your own mouth, a dental professional can.
Even if you brush and floss twice a day, it’s important to go in for your regular dental cleaning. A professional’s sharp eye can help you avoid larger oral health issues down the road.
That way, you can supplement your at-home cleanings with a professional touch.
Brighter, Better Smiles: Reasons You Should Never Skip a Dental Cleaning
Some people fail to schedule their regular dental cleaning because of anxiety. For others, it’s because of embarrassment. Scheduling your regular dental cleaning is essential to proper oral health, though.
Otherwise, you could develop harmful oral cancers or diseases.
Instead of leaving your teeth and gums at risk, set your anxiety aside. Schedule your regular dental cleanings to make sure your oral health is top-notch!
Ready to schedule your next cleaning? We can’t wait to see you. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.