Are Dental Cleanings Really Necessary If You Take Good Care of Your Teeth?

15 March 2017
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

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Most dentists will tell you to visit them every six months to have your teeth cleaned and examined, but is this really necessary? The short answer is yes, it is. Getting your teeth professionally cleaned is one of the best ways to keep your teeth healthy and cavity-free, and here are three important things you should understand about professional teeth cleaning.

Hygienists use special tools to clean your teeth

Brushing your teeth daily is a great form of maintenance to do, but brushing alone is not enough to remove all the plaque from your teeth. Plaque is something that is sticky, and it forms on your teeth from the foods you eat. Plaque will come off with brushing, but some of it may remain.

When you get your teeth professionally cleaned, the hygienist will use special tools that are perfect for removing the plaque. While you could buy these tools to use yourself, it is very important to use them properly. If you use them in the wrong ways, you could actually damage your teeth more than help them.

Getting your teeth cleaned twice each year by a professional hygienist will greatly reduce your risk for developing cavities.

Failing to remove plaque from your teeth will lead to problems

Having plaque on your teeth is somewhat normal; however, leaving it on your teeth will result in problems. Plaque is full of bacteria and can lead to cavities when it is not removed in a timely manner. In addition, as it hardens, plaque will turn into tartar, which is very hard to remove. When plaque stays on your teeth for a long time, the greater your chances will be that you will develop cavities and gum disease. This is one of the main reasons visiting a dental clinic every six months is a necessity.

A six-month checkup will help you save money and prevent major problems

The other thing to think about is how much money and time you can save by visiting your dentist every six months. If you think it is a waste of money to get your teeth cleaned, you should think again. If you develop cavities or any other problems from a lack of good oral care habits, you will end up spending even more money on fixing the problems that have developed. Getting dental problems fixed will also take time and can be painful. It makes more sense to get your teeth cleaned twice a year instead of waiting to go to the dentist until you have a problem.

Going to the dentist to have your teeth cleaned might not be the most enjoyable activity you do in life, but it is an important habit to have. If you need to schedule an examination and cleaning, contact a dental clinic near you.