We recently talked about the dental checkup, a routine exam that allows us to monitor your smile and watch for the earliest signs of trouble, treating issues before they threaten health and stability. In the same visit, we also clean your teeth. Your may be surprised to find out just how vital a routine cleaning from your Astoria, NY, dentist is for avoiding gum disease and other complications!
The Benefits of a Dental Cleaning
Over time, as oral bacteria consume the food particles trapped on and between our teeth, a bacterial byproduct will begin to coat the teeth. Known as plaque, this buildup, which eventually hardens into tartar, is impossible to remove with brushing and flossing alone. Plaque and tartar weaken and erode tooth enamel, leading to the onset of dental cavities. The buildup also inflames gum tissue, causing gingivitis and unless removed, the onset of gum disease. To protect your smile and maintain optimal oral health, you need to have this buildup removed regularly from your smile. A dental cleaning does just that, with the dentist employing an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual tool to begin removing the buildup every six months. Along with better oral health, you also enjoy better breath and brighter teeth as well!
Scaling and Root Planing
If you have severe buildup that has led to sore, red and bleeding gums, then you could have gingivitis or the early stages of gum disease. To reverse inflammation and manage gum disease, preventing the advanced stages linked to tooth loss, our team recommends a deep cleaning. Known as a scaling and root planing, this uses ultrasonic scaling technology to not only remove buildup from the surfaces of the teeth, but the roots as well. Depending on the extent of the buildup, this could take between one and four visits. Afterward, your oral health improves. If you have gum disease, we may then suggest routine cleanings every three to four months.
Controlling Plaque at Home
While brushing and flossing cannot remove plaque, they can help limit how much forms in between your six-month office visits. Which is why you need to brush your teeth when you wake up and again before bed with a fluoride toothpaste. Each session should take no less than two minutes. We also suggest flossing before bed as well, removing the food particles trapped between your teeth that toothbrush alone cannot reach. If you have any questions about our preventive care, then please contact our team today.
Do You Have Questions About General Dentistry?
We can help you maintain optimal oral health with routine visits twice yearly. For more information on preventive dentistry, schedule a consultation, call Jeffrey Leibowitz, DDS, in Astoria, NY, today at 718-728-8320.
