4 Reasons You Need To Get Your Teeth Professionally Cleaned

You've probably already heard that you should visit the dentist every six months. If you think that teeth cleaning is a waste of time, you may be tempted to skip your checkups. However, professional teeth cleaning is actually vital for proper oral health. Here are four reasons you should never skip your dental cleaning appointment:

1. Have your gums checked for disease.

Bleeding gums are one of the first signs of gum disease. If you've ever brushed your teeth or flossed, then found your saliva was red-tinted when you spit into the sink, you may have early stage gingivitis. During your teeth cleaning, your dentist will be able to notice any bleeding or swelling in your gums. If your mouth begins to bleed when they start flossing, they may want to assess your gums in order to halt the progression of gum disease.

2. Have tartar removed.

Plaque builds up on your teeth constantly. It's a sticky substance that develops when sugars mix with your saliva. You can remove plaque by flossing and brushing your teeth daily, but it can be impossible to ensure that you removed it all. When plaque is allowed to stay on your teeth, it eventually hardens into a substance called tartar. Unfortunately, you won't be able to remove tartar on your own. When you go to the dentist for a professional teeth cleaning, they'll use metal tools to scale your teeth, which means they will scrape away the tartar that has accumulated since your last dental appointment.

3. Get your X-rays done.

During your dental checkup, your dentist will take X-rays of your mouth if it's been at least one year since your last X-rays. This allows your dentist to check for decay that may be invisible to the naked eye. Catching tooth decay early means avoiding costly, painful procedures like root canals down the line.

4. Brush up on your teeth cleaning technique.

Cleaning your own teeth seems simple enough, but many people do it wrong. If you brush too hard, you may be contributing to gum erosion that can cause issues later in life. If you don't brush for long enough or don't reach all the teeth in your mouth, you'll leave plaque in place that can contribute to dental decay. Even the technique you use to floss matters, since only correct flossing cleans below your gum line. Your dentist can demonstrate the proper technique to use while cleaning your teeth, so you can do a better job when you do it yourself at home.

To schedule your teeth cleaning, contact your dentist.

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