A dental cleaning is a professional treatment that we recommend for everyone once every six months. Even if you brush and floss, you need this treatment to remove the layers of plaque and tartar that cling to the teeth and accumulate along the gum line. In today’s blog, your Rochester, MN, dentist talks about how a cleaning protects the smile.
The Impact of Plaque and Tartar
Plaque buildup coats the teeth and is created when harmful oral bacteria consume the particles of sugar and starch stuck on and between the teeth from the foods and drinks we consume. Plaque then hardens into tartar with time. The build could weaken tooth enamel to lead to cavities, and could inflame gum tissues to leave smiles vulnerable to gingivitis and gum disease. People also develop bad breath and teeth stains as well. While brushing and flossing can limit plaque, to remove it completely you need a professional dental cleaning.
The Benefits of a Professional Cleaning
A cleaning helps fight bad breath and teeth stains, and lowers your risk of cavities and periodontal concerns too! The procedure only takes a few minutes, and can help protect your smile from serious oral health concerns. The procedure involves our team removing all buildup with an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual pick. We break up and remove the buildup on the surfaces of the teeth, and then we polish the smile for a brighter appearance and to make it more difficult for plaque to accumulate. A deeper version, called a scaling and root planing, involves removing buildup from the surfaces of the teeth and from the exposed roots and beneath the gums. This one is more involved and could take one to four visits to complete, but is often needed to reverse gingivitis or manage periodontal disease.
Brushing and Flossing
In between these visits, you need to thoroughly brush and floss, limiting the amount of buildup that can accumulate until we remove it again. You should brush in the morning for two minutes using a fluoride toothpaste, and then do the same in the evening. Before brushing for the second time that day, also floss your teeth thoroughly. These actions remove the particles of sugar and starch that would otherwise feed harmful bacteria and create plaque and tartar.
If you have any questions or want to schedule a cleaning, then contact our team today.
TALK TO YOUR ROCHESTER, MN DENTIST ABOUT KEEPING YOUR TEETH CLEAN
We would love to help you clean and protect your smile this summer. If you would like to find out more about safeguarding your smile, or if you wish to book an appointment at our location, call Greenview Cosmetic And Family Dentistry in Rochester, MN at (507) 281-3659.
