You can walk out of a routine dental exam feeling confident in your oral health. After all, your smile is treated to a professional dental cleaning, and you have beneficial feedback after your dentist took the time to thoroughly look over your teeth. What you should know is that in addition to caring for your teeth, our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office also uses routine visits as an opportunity to check on the health of your gums. Your periodontal health is an important part of your overall oral health. Routine cleanings remove harmful oral bacteria from your gum line, which can make you more resistant to gingivitis. If you have signs of gingivitis when you visit us, we can recommend a special preventive treatment to help you recover.
Professional Teeth Cleanings Help You Prevent More Than Just Tooth Decay
Every time you come in for a routine teeth cleaning, our practice will work to rid you of plaque deposits and tartar buildup. By removing these concentrations of oral bacteria, we can keep you safe from harmful microbes that can cause cavities to form on your smile. What you should know is that bacteria also put your periodontal health at risk. When plaque buildup occurs at your gum line, it can lead to a harmful infection. The first stage of this infection is gingivitis. If gingivitis is not treated in time, the condition can become more serious…and harder to manage.
We Can Take On Signs Of Gingivitis
If you show signs of gingivitis when your smile is examined, we can make arrangements to perform a periodontal cleaning. A periodontal cleaning, which is also known as a scaling and root planing, will take care of portions of your smile that are not typically cared for during a routine visit. The scaling and root planing will see us clean portions of your teeth that are covered by gum tissues. Removing harmful agents in these spaces will allow you to recover from your infection over time, effectively stopping gingivitis before it can become worse.
Make Sure You Take Care Of Your Teeth And Gums Between Appointments
Untreated gingivitis can lead to long-term troubles with gum disease, and tooth decay can lead to the placement of dental fillings or dental crowns. While your dentist is ready to take on these problems, our goal is to help you prevent dental health issues from affecting you! To do this, we can offer guidance on better care between visits. We can help you look for shortcomings in your typical approach to brushing and flossing. We can also talk with you about the importance of consistency in your routine, and in the benefits of a more nutritious diet for your smile.
Talk To Your Ankeny, IA Dentist About Your Periodontal Health
At our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office, individuals who show signs of poor periodontal health can count on support from us! To find out how we can help you protect and maintain healthy gums, contact Dental Impressions at (515) 965-0230 to schedule a visit.