Did you know that poor dental hygiene can lead to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases? It can also worsen pre-existing conditions and increase mortality rates! With this in mind, your oral hygiene isn’t just a matter of having the perfect smile, it can dramatically change your overall health.
As important as they are, clean teeth are easy to achieve with a bit of effort and proactivity. Good dental hygiene is a combination of your daily habits and regular visits to the dentist.
With that in mind, we’ve put together this guide to dental cleaning so you know how often to schedule your dental appointments and how to keep your teeth clean in between! Read on to learn more!
The Benefits of Dental Cleaning
If something is wrong with your teeth, you might miss the early warning signs. Tooth decay, gum disease, and cavities all start small. Going to the dentist for teeth cleaning allows a professional to check your teeth for early signs of these afflictions before they get too big to ignore.
Furthermore, even if you think you’re a flawless brusher, you might miss spots or brush some areas better than others. In reality, your dentist can determine your dominant hand just by looking at which side you brush better. Left-handed people brush their right quadrants better, and right-handed people brush their left quadrants better.
So, although you might think you’re the perfect brusher, inconsistent brushing is normal and regular check-ins with your dentist can expose problems with your technique. This allows you to take better care of your teeth on your own time.
Reach Your Dental Goals
Your smile can make or break your self-confidence. Whatever your goals are, whether you want your teeth to be whiter or straighter, good oral hygiene is the foundation upon which the perfect smile is built. Without strong, healthy teeth, your dentist won’t be able to get you to your goal.
Checking in with your dentist allows them to get a sense of your oral history and how to proceed with your case, so you can finally have the smile you’ve been dreaming of.
How Often Should Teeth Be Cleaned?
There’s no easy answer to this question, as it depends on your case. The general rule of thumb is that you should visit the dentist every six months for your dental cleaning. However, your mileage may vary.
If you know you have sensitive teeth or are prone to cavities or gum disease, you might benefit from going more often. Some patients choose to come in every three months because it allows them to be more proactive about their health. Likewise, other patients are less susceptible to oral issues and can afford to space out their visits to every nine months to a year.
It’s always best to follow your dentist’s advice before changing the timeline of your dental cleanings, so be sure to ask them before messing with the six-month guideline. Getting your teeth cleaned once a year leaves you more vulnerable to cavities while getting your teeth cleaned more than twice a year can weaken your enamel and harm the structural integrity of your teeth. So before you start rescheduling your appointments, be sure to ask your dentist what they think is best for you.
Dental Care Between Cleanings
If you don’t take care of your teeth between dental cleanings, you raise your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. And, your regular cleanings will be a lot less pleasant.
With that in mind, be sure to brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day. It’s also a good idea to use a fluoride mouthwash to keep your breath fresh and kill any bacteria that may live in your mouth. One simple way to incorporate mouthwash into your routine is to keep a small bottle in your office and use it after meals.
If you struggle with flossing because it takes too much time, remember that you don’t necessarily have to do it at the same time as you brush your teeth. Consider keeping a small container of floss next to your TV remote, and floss your teeth while watching TV at the end of the day. This makes flossing less intimidating and can make it easier to add to your daily schedule.
And bear in mind that you don’t have to wait for your next cleaning if you have any pressing dental concerns. If you experience any pain or other uncomfortable oral symptoms, schedule a check-up as soon as possible.
What to Look For in a Dentist
More than a third of the population suffers from dental anxiety. This can lead to missed appointments and impact your overall oral health.
If you find yourself putting off your cleanings because you dread the dentist’s chair, just know that it doesn’t have to be that way. There are dentists who can make you feel comfortable and at ease, all while providing you with top-notch oral care.
At a minimum, your dentist should be certified and well-reviewed. But, most importantly, they should be approachable, personable, and easy to talk to. You should never feel that your concerns are brushed off or ignored.
If you have any concerns about a particular course of treatment, don’t be afraid to press pause and ask. If your dentist doesn’t give you transparent answers or tries to pressure you into a procedure you don’t feel comfortable with, tell them you’d like to wait and get a second opinion.
Another aspect of clear communication is multilingual services. If you speak another language, it’s worth finding a dentist that speaks your language or offers translation services. For instance, our dental clinic in North York has a staff that speaks English, Spanish, Albanian, and more.
Multilingual services allow us to offer comprehensive and transparent care to all our patients.
Schedule Your Next Dental Cleaning Today
Oral hygiene is one of the most important and easily overlooked aspects of health and wellbeing. But, with a bit of proactive care, you can achieve a bright, clean smile. Now that you know about dental cleaning and how to take care of your teeth between appointments, you’re well on your way.
All that’s left to do is to call your dentist. If you’re looking for a dentist in North York, look no further than Dental X. Our experienced, friendly staff is ready to take care of you and your smile so call us or request an appointment online today!