When was the last time you sat down in our office for a dental cleaning? We want to see you and your whole family for a routine one every six months. This can help protect your oral health and keep your smile bright! In today’s blog, your Leawood, KS, dentist talks about why we need a cleaning every six months.
The Dangers Caused By Plaque and Tartar
As we eat, the sugar and starch in our meals are left behind trapped on and between our teeth. When this happens, harmful oral bacteria have the chance to break them down and consume them. This process creates a high level of oral acidity, and in the process coats the teeth in a sticky layer known as plaque. Over time, plaque then hardens into a strong material known as tartar. While brushing and flossing can limit buildup, only a professional cleaning can remove these harmful layers.
Without removal every few months, these layers can weaken and erode the outer enamel, which then exposes the sensitive interior tissues to bacteria and allows issues like tooth decay to occur. You could also develop infection and the stability of your smile could be threatened! The same buildup then irritates and inflames the gums, a complication that increases the risk of gingivitis and gum disease, which not only causes discomfort, but could increase the risk of adult tooth loss. But we can help safeguard your smile with a routine dental cleaning.
Cleaning Your Teeth
A dental cleaning is essential for kids and adults alike. Starting at age two, kids need to have one every six months, and adults and seniors need these routine visits too. When you arrive, we will use an ultrasonic scaling device to remove the buildup from the teeth. The device emits gentle vibrations to help remove these layers. If there are stubborn portions of tartar left behind along the gum line, we could gently remove them with a manual pick. We then polish the tooth to help brighten the smile, and at the same time help create a smooth surface that is difficult for plaque and tartar to cling to. This means when you arrive for your next appointment, there is less buildup accumulating.
When a Scaling and Root Planing is Needed
What if your buildup has led to the onset of gingivitis or even gum disease? If we examine your smile and find signs of inflammation and disease, then we may need to offer more than a traditional option. We may need to instead offer a scaling and root planing. The procedure is more involved, and could take one visit or as many as four, it all depends on the severity of your buildup. We will numb your smile ahead of time to ensure the process is comfortable for you.
Our team will then use the same tools as a cleaning, but we will remove the buildup from the roots and beneath the gum line too, better protecting your smile. This can reverse gingivitis or manage gum disease, so we can control the disease moving forward with a routine cleaning every three to four months. You can also protect your smile from home by brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste for two minutes, and by flossing every evening. You should consider cutting back on the sugar and starch in your diet, and avoid tobacco products, such as cigarettes, vaping, or even smokeless tobacco. These actions help manage the disease and also limit the risk of cavities, bad breath, and even teeth stains.
If you have any questions about how we manage your oral health with a routine cleaning, or if you have sore, bleeding gums that may benefit from a deep cleaning, then contact our team today to learn more and start the treatment process. We want to help you and your whole family maintain good oral health for years to come, and that starts with an initial visit to our team.
Our Team Provides Family Dentistry
Our team wants to help protect smiles of all ages with a routine dental visit. Call Dreem Dentistry in Leawood, KS, today at (913) 681-5500 to schedule your visit with our friendly team.
