5 Main Benefits of Dental Cleanings

People get their teeth twice in a lifetime. After your milk teeth fall off, the permanent teeth erupt and any damage that occurs on them is permanent. Since there is no known method to restore the original condition of your teeth, the dentist Harrisburg NC reminds us of the old proverb “Prevention is better than cure”. One of the most effective preventive procedures, besides brushing twice a day and flossing before going to bed, is regular dental cleaning and polishing. There are many benefits of regular dental cleaning and polishing which will keep your teeth healthy and your smile pearly white.

Prevent tooth decay and cavities

One of the main reasons people visit a dentist is to prevent cavities. Cavities are small and permanent holes in teeth that form when plaque, the sticky white deposit of bacteria, begins to eat away at the outer layer of your teeth called the enamel, and they require attention and repair. To remove this acidic substance (plaque) buildup, you need to brush your teeth and floss twice a day and get a professional cleaning every six months.

Avoid gum disease

Besides decaying your teeth, plaque also damages your gums building up below the gum line. If not timely treated, gum diseases are one of the major causes of early tooth loss. Gum diseases can be painful and often unsightly. Regular teeth cleaning and brushing can prevent the process of plaque buildup, greatly decreasing the chance of losing a tooth.

Remove stains

Many of our daily habits, such as drinking coffee, tea, wine, or using tobacco products can leave stains on your teeth. By brushing your teeth regularly you will be able to remove most of the stains. However, some of those most stubborn stains will remain, and you will be able to eliminate them only with thorough teeth cleaning and polishing from your dentist if you wish to brighten your smile.

Prevent bad breath

Persistent bad breath can cause social anxiety and many other issues. The best way to prevent halitosis or chronic bad breath is with good oral hygiene habits. Although brushing and flossing is a good method for preventing unpleasant breath, this alone is not enough if you have an underlying dental issue such as tartar buildup. Tartar is a hard and crusty deposit that stains your teeth and traps bacteria underneath. In the case of tartar buildup, you may struggle with bad breath despite your best efforts in taking good care of your mouth. This is where scaling can help. It is a technique that dentists use to remove tartar buildup from along the gum line. This is necessary if you wish to freshen your breath and restore your confidence. You should also discuss with your dentist about ways to improve home care to support fresh breath all day long.

Improve your overall health

Your body is an interconnected whole where each part has an impact on the other parts. As many studies have shown, the health of your mouth affects the health of the rest of your body probably more than you realize. Regular dentist visits for teeth cleaning can help lower the risk of heart attack and stroke, as well as prevent infections in your mouth that can spread to other organs. If you have the chronic inflammation associated with gum disease, your arteries can become hardened. This can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Also, many other medical conditions that may seem unrelated to dental problems, such as kidney disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, preterm birth, infertility, and even cancer, can be detected in their early stages simply by visiting the dentist for a routine oral exam.