When was the last time you had a professional cleaning from your family dentist? If it wasn’t within the last six months, then you’re putting off essential care needed for healthy teeth and gums. Professional cleanings go beyond daily brushing and flossing to protect your smile in the long run. Here’s why you shouldn’t skip your next appointment.

What happens during a professional teeth cleaning?

Professional teeth cleaning is a routine part of family dentistry. When you come in every six months, your dentist will carry out a thorough exam and teeth cleaning to ensure that you have the best dental care for long-term oral health.

The first step to professional teeth cleaning is physically removing plaque and tartar buildup. Plaque is the film that forms when bacteria accumulate on your teeth, causing a discolored appearance and unpleasant odor. It eventually hardens into tartar, which can’t be removed by regular brushing and flossing alone.

Your dentist will use specialized tools to carefully remove plaque and tartar from tooth surfaces and around the gumline. They can reach nooks and crannies that even patients with diligent oral hygiene routines often miss.

The next step is to polish your teeth. Your dentist will use a polishing paste and a special device similar to an electric toothbrush to polish tooth surfaces. This helps remove stains and brightens your smile, leaving it with a clean and beautiful appearance.

When you come in for a professional cleaning, your dentist also carries out a comprehensive dental exam. This lets them spot signs of tooth decay and gum disease, along with more serious potential concerns. Based on this exam, they can develop a treatment plan or provide advice for your oral hygiene and diet at home.

Why are professional cleanings important?

You might think that keeping up with good oral hygiene at home is enough for a healthy smile, but that simply isn’t the case. Professional cleanings are essential to protect your teeth and gums from both short- and long-term oral health issues.

Professional cleaning protects against gum disease and cavities. Plaque and tartar deposits house plenty of bacteria. These bacteria secrete acid that wears down enamel, leading to tooth decay and cavities. They can also infect the gumline, causing gum disease. Professional cleaning removes these deposits, reducing bacteria levels.

Elevated oral bacteria levels are cause for concern for your overall health as well. They can spread to other parts of the body, leading to serious issues. Bacterial pneumonia is a prime example, where bacteria enter and infect the lungs. Gum disease is also linked to a higher risk of serious cardiovascular health concerns.

Coming in for a regular visit also enables your dentist to spot any potential issues sooner rather than later. Oral health issues are easier to treat when identified early—this means less invasive treatment and better outcomes. This is a particularly important dental tip for parents, as routine visits are key for proper development and oral health.

Putting off regular visits can allow issues such as decay and infections to quickly grow out of control. A problem that could have been solved with a single cavity filling can progress to the point of needing a root canal or even tooth extraction if left for another six months.

How often should you schedule a cleaning?

The general recommendation for professional teeth cleaning and dental exams is to come in every six months. This gives your dentist time to identify issues as early as possible, along with ensuring that your smile stays protected against plaque and tartar deposits.

That six-month recommendation extends to patients of all ages. Children should see the dentist within six months of their first tooth emerging or by the age of twelve months, whichever comes first. From there, children, adults, and seniors should all stick to a regular schedule.

There are some exceptions to this rule, as some patients have special oral health concerns. Your dentist may recommend that you come in more frequently based on your individual needs. This could be on a temporary basis, such as during treatment with braces.

Some patients may require more frequent visits to maintain their oral health in the long run. This is common in patients who have experienced gum disease or other periodontal issues.

Schedule your next dental cleaning today.

The oral hygiene routine you carry out at home and the professional cleanings you get from your dentist are both essential elements of good oral health. If you’re coming up on six months since your last visit or have gone longer than that, book your next appointment with CinciSmiles today. Schedule your teeth cleaning to get the best protection for your smile.