The end of 2017 is just two weeks away! With a new year on the horizon, now is a chance to get 2018 started on the right foot, for your smile at least. Why not start with a checkup and cleaning in 2018? In today’s blog, we’re going to discuss the importance of routine checkups and cleanings!
Checkups
What happens during a checkup that makes them so important? First, we examine your teeth, gums, and jaw with advanced technology, including intraoral cameras and digital x-rays. We can then obtain detailed images of your smile. The images, along with a visual exam, allow our team to identify oral health concerns in their earliest stages, including tooth decay, infections, gingivitis, and even gum disease. We also perform a screening for oral cancer. Identifying these issues in the early stages can allow the dentist to treat them before the problems require more invasive and intensive intervention. You should have an exam every six months.
Cleanings
During your same visit, we will clean your teeth. The procedure involves removing plaque from your teeth with a manual tool or an ultrasonic scaler. Removing plaque limits the risk of tooth decay and gum disease, while also giving patients fresher breath and brighter smiles. Even if you brush and floss daily, you still need a cleaning as this is the only way to completely remove plaque from your smile.
A New Year, A New Approach to Homecare
How well do you care for your smile at home? Often, people brush and floss daily, just not correctly. You should be brushing your teeth twice, once when you wake and again before bed. Each time you should clean your smile for at least two minutes. You also need to floss every night before bed, going up and down the length of each side of every tooth.
Do You Need an Exam?
At Jeffrey Leibowitz, DDS, we can offer preventive treatments to help you maintain optimal oral health. We’ve proudly served our patients in Astoria, NY (including Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and all surrounding communities) since 1991. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Leibowitz, call our office in Astoria today at 718-728-8320.
