The Importance Of Your Dental Cleanings

A dental cleaning can help safeguard your smile against serious oral health concerns, including tooth decay and even periodontal disease. Which is why you should see us for one every six months. In today’s blog, your Cleveland, TX, dentist talks about the value of regular dental cleanings.

The Causes and Impacts of Plaque Buildup

Plaque buildup is a sticky bacterial byproduct that forms on the surfaces of our teeth. This is caused by oral bacteria consuming the particles of sugar and starch left behind by the foods and drinks we consume. While brushing and flossing is essential for limiting the buildup, only a professional cleaning can completely remove the layers from your teeth. Ove time, these harden into tartar and cannot be removed with a toothbrush or floss line. If left in place, the buildup grows in severity and could weaken enamel to cause cavities. The layers are also linked to gingivitis and gum disease, and even bad breath and teeth stains. But we can safeguard your smile by removing it!

The Dental Cleaning

The procedure involves our hygienist using an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual pick to gently and thoroughly remove all plaque and tartar from the surfaces of the teeth. We then polish the teeth for a brighter appearance and a smoother surface. This is helpful for kids and adults alike!

Fighting Plaque

You can also take steps to limit how much buildup can accumulate on your teeth. For example, take time to brush for two minutes when you wake up and then again before going to bed. Prior to bedtime, you should also floss before you brush the second time, flossing removes what is behind the reach of a toothbrush. Try to cut back on foods and drinks high in sugar and starch too.

Scaling and Root Planing

If your buildup is very severe, this could mean gum recession and plaque forming on the sensitive root structure. At this stage, the risk of gingivitis and gum disease increases significantly. To address this stage, reversing gingivitis or managing gum disease in the process, you need a deep cleaning. Using the ultrasonic scaling device we mentioned before, we will break up the layers on the teeth and the exposed roots as well. This can take one to four visits, and we polish the teeth afterward. We also numb your smile since this can be a bit more involved than a traditional cleaning.

If you have any questions about fighting plaque buildup and protecting your smile, then contact our team today.

Talk To Your Cleveland, TX Dentist About Fighting Plaque Buildup

We would like to help you enjoy strong and beautiful smiles with preventive treatments. For more information on protecting your oral health, then contact your Cleveland, TX, dentist, Dr. Uhrenholdt, by calling (281) 592-1234.