The Importance of Dental Cleanings

Dental cleanings are one of the most important things you can do for your oral health because a dentist’s tools can reach deeper below the gum line than the toothbrushes and floss you use at home, which ensures that all the plaque and tartar are removed from your teeth and gums. If it’s been a while since your last dental cleaning, now may be a good time to schedule your next appointment to make sure you are not developing gum disease, tooth decay or cavities.

Benefits of Dental Cleanings

Everyone knows that they should brush their teeth at least twice a day and floss once a day in order to help maintain oral health and prevent the build-up of plaque and tartar which can weaken your enamel and lead to cavities and gum disease. However, at-home cleanings cannot completely prevent oral health problems because some plaque may still be left on your teeth, and that plaque can turn into tartar, which can lead to gum inflammation and disease.

Cleans Deep Below the Gum Line

At-home oral care products, like toothbrushes and floss, can only reach about 3mm below the gum line. If any tartar or bacteria are deeper than 3mm, you won’t be able to reach it. This means that you good develop gingivitis or periodontal disease even with good oral care at home. Our Clermont dentist, by contrast, has professional dental tools that can reach much deeper than 3mm. This ensures that by the time your dental cleaning is finished, that all the plaque and tartar have been removed from your teeth and deep below your gum line.

Removes Stains and Discoloration

In addition to making sure your teeth and gums are clean, regular dental cleanings also help remove stains and certain types of discoloration, especially if you drink a lot of tea, coffee, and soda. If you aren’t happy with the color of your teeth and feel like you would benefit from teeth whitening in addition to regular cleanings, our dentist can recommend products to help you achieve a whiter smile, like in-office teeth bleaching, lumineers, and porcelain veneers.

Detects Oral Health Problems Early

Many oral health problems, like gingivitis, periodontal disease, cavities, broken fillings and oral cancer do not have any initial symptoms. This means that the conditions may be extremely advanced before you notice any pain. Our Clermont dentist looks for signs or oral health problems during your regular dental checkup and teeth cleaning via a visual examination and by taking x-rays of your teeth and gums. If any oral health problems are found, they can be treated in a timely manner before they result in tooth loss or significantly impact your health. In fact, problems like cavities can often be fixed during your teeth cleaning appointment. If you have any signs of gum disease, our dentist will explain the findings and recommend a treatment plan to help reverse the condition.

May Reduce Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

According to the American Heart Association, individuals with gum disease may have more inflammation in their bodies than those without gum disease, especially if they smoke or have diabetes. While there is no conclusive evidence that gum disease and heart disease are directly linked, one of the primary factors for heart disease is inflammation in the blood vessels and arteries, which causes a hardening of the arteries. Individuals with gum disease often have signs of heart disease and inflammation in the arteries, so it may be beneficial to get regular dental cleanings to help avoid gum disease and the inflammation that follows.

Oral Health Checkups at Our Dentist Office Are Covered by Dental Insurance Plans

Most dental insurance plans cover at least once dental checkup and cleaning per year, and you may be able to cover the cost of your teeth cleaning with your HSA or FSA account. If you are uncertain, our dentist in Clermont can check to see if your insurance is accepted so that you can receive the preventative dental care you need.

To schedule your dental appointment at Hancock Village Dental, call us at 352-989-5815.