The Importance of Professional Teeth Cleanings

Did you skip a dental cleaning this year? If you did, you’re not alone. Over 100 million Americans don’t make it to their dental cleanings each year, missing out on this important part of oral care. 

At Proud to Smile Dentistry in Bernardsville, New Jersey, Dr. Patricia Swaintek-Lamb and our care team want you to know about the importance of dental cleanings for healthy teeth and gums. We offer routine cleanings as part of our comprehensive dentistry services. Read on to learn the various ways professional teeth cleanings support optimum oral health. 

Professional cleanings stop tooth decay

Dental plaque, a sticky film that builds up on your teeth over time, harbors harmful bacteria that attack tooth enamel and gum tissue, damaging your teeth and inflaming your gums. 

When plaque isn’t fully removed, it eventually calcifies into tartar, or hardened brown or yellow deposits. Because these deposits bond with your tooth enamel, they’re impossible to remove without professional dental tools and techniques. 

Both plaque and tartar have acid-producing bacteria that break down your dental enamel. This makes your teeth more vulnerable to decay and cavities. Professional cleanings remove plaque and tartar to halt the underlying cause of tooth decay in its tracks.

Dental cleanings help prevent gum disease

Brushing and flossing each day is essential, but the spots where your teeth and gums meet can be difficult to reach at home. This is especially true as you age and your gum tissue recedes. 

Tiny pieces of food and bacteria can get stuck in these tricky areas, increasing your risk of gum disease. Since your professional cleaning reaches and cleans these difficult spots, it helps prevent gum disease.

In-office cleanings can brighten your smile

The foods and drinks we consume create stains on the surface of our teeth. If you drink tea, wine, coffee, or carbonated beverages, or if you smoke or use tobacco products, stains can develop quickly and leave you with a dull, dingy smile.

Getting your teeth professionally cleaned at Proud to Smile Dentistry helps remove stains, keeping your smile bright. We also offer in-office teeth whitening services if you’re looking to make your smile even more luminous.

Your breath is freshened during your cleaning

The bacteria found in both plaque and tartar also contribute to bad breath. Regular brushing and flossing can’t always completely resolve this problem. During your dental cleaning, your dental hygienist cleans what you can’t at home. This makes your professional cleaning an essential part of ditching bacteria and restoring fresh breath.

We can detect oral cancer during your cleaning

You have increased risk for oral cancer if you’re a smoker or someone who uses tobacco products, or if you drink more than one alcoholic beverage each day.

A professional cleaning and exam gives our team the opportunity to observe and examine the condition of your teeth and gums. Red, swollen, or ulcerated areas may indicate oral cancer, and if we spot these signs, we refer you to an oral cancer specialist to help you get the prompt evaluation you need for timely treatment.

Regular cleanings improve your overall health

Though it’s obvious that dental cleanings actively improve your oral health, it may not be as obvious that they improve your overall health, too. How? Infection and disease that begin in your mouth have the ability to cause inflammation that extends to other areas in your body.

Research shows that good oral health correlates to a reduced risk of heart disease, coronary artery disease, stroke, and heart attack. And while having diabetes can negatively impact your ability to fight the infections that cause tooth decay and gum disease, regular dental cleanings can go a long way in helping you maintain good oral health.

Schedule a professional dental cleaning today

Professional cleanings and dental exams should be done at least twice a year, possibly more often if you have diabetes or another condition that impacts your oral health. You’re overdue for a dental cleaning or exam if you haven’t had one in the past six months.

At Proud to Smile Dentistry, we’re ready to help you get your dental care back on track. Our professional cleanings and exams usually take less than an hour, fitting conveniently into your busy schedule. If we find an issue that requires further attention, we develop a treatment plan customized to your needs. 

Are you ready to schedule your next professional dental cleaning? We’re here to help. Book an appointment online or over the phone at Proud to Smile Dentistry in Bernardsville, New Jersey, today.