We believe in offering a preventive approach to dental care, which is why we offer treatments like routine dental cleanings. These visits allow our team to remove all plaque and tartar, so you avoid major complications down the road. In today’s blog, your Ankeny, IA, dentist talks about removing plaque buildup with a preventive cleaning.
The Causes of Plaque and Tartar
How does harmful buildup occur? When we eat and drink, this could leave behind particles of sugar and starch. As bacteria consumes these particles, this causes a rise in oral acidity and coats the teeth in a sticky layer of plaque buildup. Without removal, this hardens into tartar. The buildup can weaken enamel to cause cavities, inflame gums to cause gingivitis and gum disease, and is linked to bad breath and teeth stains. Brushing and flossing can limit severity, but only a professional dental cleaning can remove all the layers completely from your smile! Which is why we suggest one every six months, or three to four months if you have a high risk of periodontal concerns.
Having Your Teeth Cleaned
Let’s talk about the cleaning process itself. Our team will use an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual pick to thoroughly and gently remove all plaque and tartar from your teeth and along the gum line. The process only takes a short period, and we then polish your teeth. The polishing not only brightens your smile, but also limits the ability for these layers to buildup in between your visits.
If you have sore, red, and bleeding gums due to gingivitis or periodontal disease, we may suggest a deep cleaning. Known as a scaling and root planing, this is more involved and requires removing layers from the teeth and roots, which can make gum disease manageable with traditional cleanings every three to four months.
Reducing Harmful Layers
Along with a visit for a cleaning, what can you do to limit harmful layers? First, deprive harmful bacteria of a meal by cutting back on the amount of sugar and starch in your diet. Next, take time to brush and floss daily to remove stray food and drink particles from your smile. These actions also help fight the onset of tooth decay!
If you have any questions about how we safeguard smiles with preventive dentistry, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help you smile with confidence again!
Dental Impressions Talks About Preventive Dentistry
Our team wants to help you smile with confidence again, and to enjoy good oral health, so see our team for preventive dentistry. To find out more about protecting your smile and controlling plaque buildup, then call Dental Impressions in Ankeny, IA today at (515) 965-0230.
