Keeping your smile white is not the only reason to have your teeth professionally cleaned; it also impacts your overall health. – Importance of Oral Hygiene
Dentists recommend having at least two regular dental examinations and cleanings as part of their patient’s good oral hygiene. They also allow your dentist to examine your teeth and detect any issues such as cavities or gingivitis early. Regular brushing and flossing are also essential for good oral hygiene. – Importance of Oral Hygiene
Here’s why you should have your teeth professionally cleaned:
Why Dental Cleaning Is Necessary
Many people fail to maintain good oral hygiene. The CDC estimates that 25.9% of the adult population has dental caries. Cavities can still happen despite your best efforts; cleaning your teeth thoroughly every day is the best way to prevent them.
Even if you brush your teeth twice daily and floss at least once per day, a biannual cleaning is still necessary says this dentist in Williamsburg.
Regular visits to your dentist for professional dental cleaning can significantly improve your oral health.
During your visit, your dentist will:
- Examine your tongue, gums, and teeth
- Check your mouth for signs and symptoms of oral cancer
- Get rid of tartar and plaque buildup
- Take note of any changes to your inner cheeks, jaws, gums, or teeth
Dental Issues You Might Face When You Don’t Undergo Professional Dental Cleaning
Dental health organizations and healthcare agencies encourage the public to prioritize oral hygiene. Championing oral health transformation indirectly affects the economy, improving attrition rate and employee productivity. Most importantly, good oral hygiene includes professional dental cleaning, preventing many dental issues that can affect both oral health and overall health.
We use our teeth every day; it’s not surprising when things go wrong, especially if we don’t take care of them properly. A professional dental cleaning can help prevent or reduce the negative effects of teeth and gum problems. But what are the common oral health problems that may arise without undergoing professional dental cleaning?
Regular cleaning is crucial to avoid any of the following problems:
- Plaque Buildup
The University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry states that your mouth is home to over 300 types of bacteria. They feed on sugar and food particles left in your mouth when you don’t brush your teeth, leading to plaque buildup and tooth decay.
Plaque forms on teeth surface in contact with your tongue and quickly spreads throughout your mouth. It can also reach the small spaces between your gum and tooth. If not cleaned immediately, bacteria from plaque will digest the food and sugar particles in your mouth and form plaque in as little as 24 hours.
Over time, plaque buildup becomes heavier and thicker, eventually hardening into tartar due to minerals in the saliva. Dentists use advanced tools to eradicate hardened food and mineral deposits in between teeth and underneath gum lines. They use sterile dental instruments, such as picks, curettes, and scalers, picks, or curettes to scrape off tartar and plaques. Moreover, dentists use hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide, hydrochloric acid, and other chemical agents to eradicate tooth stains.
Dental experts advise patients to undergo professional dental cleaning every six months. Some people, especially those who smoke cigarettes, need more frequent professional cleanings. This dental procedure typically lasts for 30 to 45 minutes.
- Tooth Loss – Importance of Oral Hygiene
Failing to clean and maintain your teeth properly will lead to tooth loss in the long run.
If you ignore the health consequences of not cleaning your teeth, your teeth will come loose or fall out sooner or later. Bacteria in your gums produce enzymes that eat away at your bones, loosening your teeth. The more bone affected, the more space for bacteria to grow, becoming a cycle of worsening tooth loss and bone erosion.
Replacing a tooth can be expensive. Dentures and dental implants may cost hundreds of dollars. Before it’s too late, see a dentist to evaluate your oral health and undergo preventive cleaning maintenance to preserve your natural teeth.Organizations like CareQuest Institute champion the value of medical-dental integration, which aims to improve the care experience for patients and reduce costs at the same time.
- Gum Disease
Plaque builds up over time, and if it is not cleaned away, bacteria will also start to produce their acid waste products that irritate gums and cause inflammation, bleeding, and redness.
These are the symptoms of the earliest stage of gum disease known as gingivitis, and they appear in a matter of days. Living with such a dental issue is uncomfortable and inconvenient, negatively impacting your confidence, mood, general health, and overall well-being.
- Bad Breath
With harmful bacteria digesting the food particles in your mouth, you’ll likely have bad breath if you don’t regularly have your teeth cleaned. Aside from acids, bacteria also produce sulfides that contribute to bad breath.
Neglecting to brush your tongue and teeth can lead to the accumulation of dead cells and more bacteria.
Is There a Link Between General Health and Oral Health?
A healthy mouth is essential for maintaining a healthy body. Although you may not have thought of it, poor oral hygiene can lead to more severe problems in the body.
Here are some health problems associated with poor dental health:
- Heart Disease
Bacteria in the mouth can enter the circulatory system and cause heart issues like infective endocarditis. The bacteria present in plaque can also spread to the heart valves and arteries.
Most dentists recommend using antibiotics before performing any dental procedures.
- Cognitive Problems
Studies suggest that chewing and blood flow to the brain are connected. Blood flow significantly impacts the brain’s ability to function. Researchers found that individuals with 20 teeth or less are 26% more likely to have cognitive issues that eventually lead to Alzheimer’s.
- Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects many people, both children, and adults. Evidence indicates a link between diabetes and gum infection. Periodontal diseases are
prevalent in people with diabetes—affecting nearly 22%. Poor blood sugar management puts them at greater risk. As with all infections, severe gum disease can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
The Bottom Line
Brushing and flossing your teeth at home is essential for good dental hygiene. However, sometimes, it’s not enough. Regular check-ups and cleanings are also essential in treating and preventing persistent bad breath and other dental problems. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck with bad breath, gum disease, tooth loss, plaque buildup, and other medical problems.
Get immediate dental help from dentists in Durango, CO, to get your mouth and teeth back on track. Improve your dental health and hygiene today.
