Dental Cleanings
Regular dental cleanings are essential for maintaining optimal oral health.
We, at Lake Belton Family Dentistry and Dentures, are all about ensuring our valued patients enjoy healthy smiles for many years to come. We invite you to experience preventive dentistry care at its best.
How Often Should You Have Dental Cleanings?
Patients with healthy teeth and gums typically need dental exams and cleanings (prophylaxis) twice a year. If, however, you have periodontitis, an advanced stage of gum disease, you will need your teeth professionally cleaned every 3-4 months to manage the condition. While periodontitis cannot be completely reversed, dental cleanings can help halt its progression.
Why Are Dental Cleanings Necessary?
Dental cleanings help maintain your oral health, fend off bad breath (halitosis), leaving you with clean, fresh breath. You'll enjoy a healthier-looking smile by removing surface stains off your teeth. During your appointment, we will check for and address any emerging problems before they progress, which can potentially prevent costly dental emergencies down the road.
Teeth cleanings eliminate the buildup of plaque and tartar, which are the leading causes of gum (periodontal) disease. Gum disease develops when the body's immune system responds to tartar buildup with inflamed and bleeding gums. Professional cleanings, coupled with proper dental hygiene practices at home, can reverse gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. If not addressed, the condition can progress, potentially leading to damage to the bone and tissues in your mouth. Gum disease not only affects your oral health, but has also been linked to health conditions, including stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and more.
Dental cleanings can also help prevent tooth decay. Plaque, left sitting on your teeth, begins to erode your tooth enamel leaving your teeth vulnerable to cavity-causing bacteria. While daily brushing and flossing help remove plaque, dental cleanings eliminate the stubborn plaque and tartar you can't remove with regular brushing.
What Happens During a Dental Cleaning?
Our dental hygienist will remove plaque or tartar buildup around your gum line and between your teeth using an instrument called a scaler. After your teeth are plaque and tartar-free, you'll have them professionally flossed and polished. The last step is applying fluoride to protect your teeth and help prevent the development of tooth decay.
How Should You Care for Your Teeth at Home?
Brush your teeth at least twice a day using fluoride toothpaste and floss daily. Proper oral hygiene practices help remove plaque and prevent it from hardening to tartar, which can only be removed at a dentist's office. Caring for your teeth will help prevent a host of dental problems and will leave you with a healthy, confident smile!
Dental Cleanings Near Me
Contact Lake Belton Family Dentistry and Dentures in Temple, TX, to schedule your dental exam and cleaning. Our skilled and highly experienced team is committed to providing quality preventive services to help keep dental disease at bay. We look forward to helping you maintain a clean and healthy smile for a lifetime. Call us and schedule your appointment today.