To help prevent the onset of tooth decay and periodontal disease, we recommend a routine dental cleaning. With a visit every six months, your whole family can maintain bright and healthy smiles! In today’s blog, Dental Impressions in Ankeny, IA, talks about protecting smiles with a thorough dental cleaning.
The Causes of Tooth Decay and Gum Disease
Over time, the sugar and starch in the foods and drinks we consume can be left behind for harmful oral bacteria to break down. When this happens, the levels of oral acidity increase, and the teeth become coated in layers of plaque and tartar, which cannot be removed with daily brushing and flossing alone. These layers then weaken the outer enamel to make cavities possible. The same buildup irritates and inflames the gums too, which causes an increased risk of gingivitis and gum disease. But with a routine dental cleaning every six months, we can help protect your smile from cavities and disease!
Dental Cleanings
With the dental cleaning, we will use an ultrasonic scaling device to gently remove plaque and tartar from your teeth. The device will use gentle vibrations to loosen the materials. We then follow this with a manual pick to remove the more stubborn portions of tartar that could cling to the teeth along the gum line. Afterward, we will polish the teeth to not only brighten them, but make it harder for plaque and tartar to cling to them in between your six-month visits. If you have symptoms of gum disease, we could offer a deep cleaning, in which we use the same tools, but also remove buildup from the roots and under the gum line to make the issue more manageable with a preventive approach.
Better Hygiene Habits at Home
In between our six months visits, you can take action to better protect your smile and limit buildup severity, while also fighting tooth decay and gum disease. You should start and end your day by brushing for two minutes with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a toothpaste that contains fluoride. You also need to floss every evening before you go to bed to remove what a toothbrush cannot reach. Cutting back on the sugar and starch in your diet helps too. If you have any questions about how to protect your smile with a six month visit, or if you would like to schedule one now for yourself or a family member, then reach out to our team today to learn more and get started. We want to help you start summer with a bright and healthy smile!
Dental Impressions Protects Smiles with General Dentistry
Our team is ready to help safeguard smiles against decay and disease! To schedule an appointment for preventive dentistry, then call Dental Impressions in Ankeny, IA today at (515) 965-0230.
