Is Dental Cleaning Preventative Care?
When it comes to staying healthy, preventive care plays an important role in maintaining overall health. So when it comes to looking after your teeth, is dental cleaning as preventative as people think? This article will examine the facts and explore how regular dental cleanings can help keep your smile healthy and strong.
What is Preventative Care?
Preventative care is defined as measures taken to prevent the development of a disease or disorder. In the case of dental care, preventive measures are those born to avoid the onset of dental decay and gum disease.
There are several different ways to practice preventative dental care. Brushing and flossing regularly helps remove plaque from teeth, which can lead to decay and gum disease if not removed. Regular visits to the dentist for professional cleanings and checkups can also help identify any potential problems early on before they become more serious.
A healthy diet is also crucial for oral health. Eating foods high in sugar can contribute to tooth decay, so limiting sugary snacks and drinks is essential. Crunchy fruits and vegetables can help clean teeth naturally and promote saliva production, which helps keep the mouth healthy.
The Benefits of Regular Dental Cleanings
1. Removal of plaque and tartar: Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on our teeth. If not removed, it can harden into tartar, which is much more difficult to remove. Regular professional cleanings will remove plaque and tartar before they can cause damage to your teeth.
2. Prevention of gum disease: Gum disease is an infection of the gums that can eventually lead to tooth loss. It is caused by plaque buildup, so regular cleanings can help prevent it from developing.
3. Fresher breath: Plaque and tartar can cause bad breath because they harbor bacteria that release foul-smelling gases. Removing them with professional cleanings will help your breath smell fresher.
4. Detection of oral health problems: Dental professionals can spot early signs of oral health problems, such as tooth decay or gum disease, during routine cleanings and take steps to treat them before they become more serious.
How a Professional Cleaning Differs from Home Care
A professional cleaning at the dentist’s office differs from just brushing and flossing at home. First, professional cleaning involves using special instruments to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth. This process is called scaling and polishing. Scaling is done with a small, hand-held tool called a scaler or curette. The scaler is used to scrape off plaque and tartar from the surfaces of your teeth, both above and below the gum line. Polishing is done with a rotating brush that has gritty toothpaste on it. This helps to smooth out any rough spots on your teeth and gives them a shiny appearance.
Second, your dentist or hygienist will also floss your teeth during a professional cleaning. They will use a particular type of floss called interdental floss, designed to get between all of your teeth to remove any plaque or food particles stuck there. They will also check for any signs of gum disease, such as bleeding gums or pus around the gum line.
Finally, after your teeth have been cleaned and polished, your dentist may apply a fluoride treatment to help prevent cavities. Fluoride is a mineral that helps to make tooth enamel more robust and more resistant to decay. It can be found in many foods and drinks and some types of toothpaste.
How Often Should I Get a Dental Cleaning?
A dental cleaning, also called prevention, is a preventive measure to remove tartar (mineralized plaque) and stains from teeth above the gum line. Tartar buildup can lead to gum disease and tooth decay. Professional cleanings are important because they remove tartar you cannot remove with regular brushing and flossing.
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that patients have a professional dental cleaning at least once every six months. This recommendation is based on extensive research showing that tartar buildup leads to gum disease and tooth decay. If you have a history of gum disease, your dentist may recommend more frequent cleanings.
What Happens During a Professional Cleaning?
A professional dental cleaning, or prophylaxis, is a deep teeth cleaning performed by a dentist or dental hygienist. It is essential to have regular professional cleanings because they remove plaque and tartar that can lead to gum disease. Professional cleanings also help to prevent cavities by removing bacteria and food particles from the teeth.
Alternatives to Professional Cleanings
1. At-home dental care: Several different at-home dental care options can be just as effective as professional cleanings. Be sure to brush and floss regularly, and consider using an electric toothbrush or water flosser to help remove plaque and bacteria.
2. Dental sealants: Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. Sealants can help protect against cavities by keeping food and bacteria from getting into the tiny crevices of the teeth.
3. Fluoride treatments: Fluoride is a mineral that helps strengthen tooth enamel and prevent cavities. Professional fluoride treatments can benefit people at high risk for cavities, such as those with poor oral hygiene or dry mouth.
Conclusion
Dental cleanings can be a great way to maintain oral health and are essential to preventive care. Regular dental cleanings help to remove plaque, tartar, and bacteria that can lead to cavities and gum disease. Dental cleanings should be done every six months for optimal results, so if you haven’t had a dental cleaning in a while, it might be time to schedule an appointment with your dentist – better safe than sorry! During a routine cleaning appointment, the dentist may detect signs of more severe conditions, such as oral cancer.
