What your dentist in Grand Rapids wants you to know
You schedule a professional cleaning with your dental hygienist every six months, but you may wonder why you are getting professional cleanings. Are professional cleanings really necessary? Isn’t brushing and flossing enough? The truth is a professional dental cleaning will go where brushing and flossing can’t, down under your gums, where bacteria can hide.
Dr. Robert Dame at North Park Family Dental in Grand Rapids, MI wants to share the facts about the benefits of a professional teeth cleaning and why your smile won’t stay healthy with just regular brushing and flossing.
Brushing and flossing regularly are still vitally important to keep your mouth healthy, but they only remove soft deposits, known as plaque. There are millions of harmful bacteria hiding in the plaque. The bacteria produce toxins that can destroy your gums, teeth and bone. That’s why it’s so important to remove plaque thoroughly and regularly by brushing and flossing.
Hard deposits, known as calculus or tartar, also form on your teeth. These hard deposits can’t be removed by brushing and flossing. During a professional dental cleaning, the hard deposits are removed using ultrasonic devices and professional dental instruments. The hard deposits on your teeth need to be removed because they provide a safe, comfortable haven for more plaque and more bacteria to thrive.
During your professional cleaning, the plaque and calculus are removed, bacteria are flushed out, and your teeth are polished to a sparkling shine. Your gums will be checked for any signs of gum or periodontal disease, and your teeth will be checked for any signs of bone loss or mobility.
Your dental professional will look for signs of bleeding and inflammation in your gums, which may indicate gum disease, which can be reversed with brushing and flossing. If there are signs of bone loss, you may have periodontal disease, which can’t be reversed, but can be managed. Periodontal disease requires more aggressive therapy than just a cleaning every six months. The key to treatment of gum or periodontal disease is early diagnosis, and that can only happen with a professional teeth cleaning, exam and x-rays.
Your dental professional will also perform an oral cancer screening exam. Dr. Dame and his team use a special light called a Vizilite to detect changes in oral tissues way before they can be detected under normal white light. Early detection is the key to surviving oral cancer.
Professional teeth cleanings go way beyond giving you a sparkling smile. They are necessary to protect the health of your gums, teeth, supporting bone and your overall health and well-being. For more information about dental health and dental services, call Dr. Dame at North Park Family Dental in Grand Rapids, MI today!