You brush and floss your teeth with diligent regularity, follow all of the recommendations from your dentist like using fluoride toothpaste and cleaning your tongue, so dental cleanings are optional, right? Not so! Here are the reasons we recommend twice-yearly dental cleanings in our Phinney Ridge dental office to keep your smile looking its best and feeling healthy.
Plaque Turns Into Tartar
Even if you take your time and do a thorough job cleaning your teeth, your toothbrush and floss cannot reach every nook and cranny of your teeth. Plaque tends to collect between the teeth and just below the gumline and will quickly harden into tartar before you know it.
Once tartar develops, only a dental hygienist or dentist can remove it, which will protect your gums from periodontal disease.
Stains Develop between Cleanings
Some of the healthiest foods leave deposits on teeth that make them look dark. If you enjoy coffee or red wine, stains develop even more quickly. Stains are like a color magnet, and your dental cleaning in our Phinney Ridge dental office will polish away the surface stains that make your teeth look yellow or brown.
For deeper stains, we also offer teeth whitening and the best time to get started is immediately following a dental cleaning when the whitening gel can come into direct contact with your teeth.
Your Dental Cleaning Reveals Oral Conditions
Who looks at your teeth more closely than your dentist and hygienist? No one! Having your regular dental cleaning and exam will give our dental team an opportunity to identify problems before they start to hurt or threaten your teeth.
Micro-fractures and gingivitis are both problems that are quickly addressed in their early stages. When allowed to progress a hairline fracture can result in tooth loss, and gum disease can cause the damage of bone – the foundation of your smile.
Don’t let missed dental cleanings put your oral health at risk. Preventive dentistry is affordable and easier than trying to play catch-up later.