Why Is It Important to Get Teeth Cleaned?

There are people who wouldn't dream of going six months without having their teeth cleaned. Others can't remember the last time they went in for a dental cleaning. Does it really matter if you have your teeth cleaned? Isn’t brushing and flossing enough? The fact is that everyone, even those who do a great job with home dental hygiene, should have their teeth cleaned a minimum of twice a year. Here are some of the reasons why cleanings are so important.

Answers to a Few Basic Questions

Before getting into the reasons and benefits associated with teeth cleanings, it pays to answer a few questions that most people will ask. These three tend to be at the top of the list.

What is included in dental cleaning? There is more than one type of cleaning. Both types will involve removing buildup from between the teeth, getting rid of residue that resides on the surface of each tooth, and polishing the teeth. Depending on how long it’s been since your last cleaning and if you have any known dental issues, the process may be more comprehensive.

What is the difference between regular cleaning and deep cleaning? Think of a deep cleaning as providing all the benefits of a regular cleaning plus a few more. The deep cleaning may involve two rounds of X-rays rather than one. It also includes attempting to remove residue that has settled in just below the gum line at the base of the teeth. If you have veneers or crowns, the dental professional looks a little more closely at how well they are holding up.

Does a dental cleaning hurt? Unless you are having an issue with tooth or gum sensitivity, there is no discomfort involved with a cleaning. Even then, there are ways to help you remain comfortable during the process. Along the way, the professional may spot something that indicates why your teeth are sensitive. That’s a good thing since it paves the way for treating the sensitivity.

Another Chance to Check For Common Dental Issues

Perhaps you have no history of ongoing dental issues. That’s great! Even so, having a dental cleaning twice a year provides another opportunity to check on the current state of your teeth and gums. While the effort may not be as comprehensive as a complete dental check-up, it’s sufficient to identify anything that needs further attention.

From this perspective, consider the cleaning as a great way to determine if any issue has developed since the last check-up. If not, then all is well. If so, then there’s the opportunity to resolve the issue before things get worse.

As Well as Less Common Issues

Did you know that the dental cleaning procedure can also include a quick screening for things like oral cancer? While this is usually associated with a dental check-up, it can also be done as part of the cleaning process. Your dentist may recommend including the screening if there is a history of cancer in your family. If you’ve had cancer yourself, especially any type of mouth cancer, it’s a good idea to ask for the test.

And Protect Your Health in General

Not everyone understands how dental problems can contribute to the development of other sorts of ailments. The observations made during a dental cleaning make it easier to spot a condition that needs attention now. Choosing to arrange for whatever treatment is necessary eliminates the problem and prevents it from increasing the odds of developing a health issue in some other part of the body. View the cleaning as an investment in your overall health.

Freshen Your Breath

Even with the most enthusiastic daily dental care, it’s hard to achieve the same level of cleanliness and freshness that comes with a dental cleaning in Markham, Ontario. While your efforts at home do remove the bulk of the plaque, tartar, and other residue from between the teeth and at the gum line, there is still some left. It only adds to the bacteria level in the mouth.

Two cleanings per year go a long way toward helping get rid of what’s left and leave the mouth feeling fresh. You’ll love the feeling, especially since you can keep it for a few days by brushing and flossing diligently.

Make Your Smile More Brilliant

Your smile already looks good, but why not take it to great? The professional dental cleaning coupled with your own daily efforts makes sure there is nothing left to detract from the healthy look of the teeth. The result is that your smile is all the more attractive. Whether you work with the same people every day or spent your days taking care of different clients, a winning smile will always come in handy.

Great Way to Spot Gum Infections or Diseases

While much of the cleaning is focused on the teeth, your gums get a fair amount of scrutiny too. The professional managing the cleaning will also pay attention to the colour and general condition of the gums. If there are any signs of discoloration, swelling, or bleeding, you are likely to be checked more closely for signs of infections or some type of gum disease. In this scenario, the decision to have a professional clean your teeth results in resolving a health problem before it can begin to cause serious issues.

A Chance to Get Away From the Day’s Stress

Many of the reasons to have your teeth cleaned focus on physical health. You want to keep your teeth and gums in top shape. Have you thought about how a cleaning can also be good for your mind as well?

The pace of life today often means that you don’t slow down from the moment you get out of bed until you get back into it at night. All that rushing triggers a lot of stress. Having a break from the stress is certainly good for your mood and your emotional well being.

The time spent in the chair while having a cleaning is the opportunity to slow down, let your mind rest, and get that mental break you need. Think of it as being one additional perk that the dental cleaning cost buys you.

Boosting Confidence in Your Appearance

In some professions, personal appearance is important to success. It’s not just about the way you dress. Potential clients and others also pay attention to the way you seem to take care of yourself. That includes the condition of your teeth.

When you have a dental cleaning, it’s easy to be confident that your teeth look their best. The fact they are so clean and your breath is so fresh certainly increases your confidence in the way you look. That confidence translates into feeling more competent and capable of providing the customer with whatever he or she needs. Rest assured that trait will serve you well throughout your career.

Determine if a Current Condition is Affecting Your Dental Health

Are you current dealing with some other type of health issue? Maybe you are expecting a child. what you may not know is that certain conditions can have an effect on the teeth. Along with a check-up, a dental cleaning can help you know if your teeth are being impacted in any way.

Remember that it’s safe to have a cleaning even if you have some sort of temporary condition. For example, you can have a dental cleaning while pregnant and know that the process will not have any type of negative impact. What it may do is eliminate potential causes of gum infections that could complicate the pregnancy.

Cleaning as Part of the Preparation for a Surgical Procedure

What if you about to undergo some type of surgical procedure? There’s no need to reschedule the dental cleaning. In fact, having a cleaning is one more way to prepare for the event. As with pregnancy, a thorough cleaning before surgery eliminates one more potential issue that might complicate your recovery period.

Even if you will have having some type of oral procedure, it makes sense to have a dental cleaning before surgery. Getting rid of harmful bacteria certainly makes the preparation on the day of the surgery easier. And since it helps to lower certain risk factors, the cleaning is certainly worth the time and effort.

Before you decide to delay or forego a dental cleaning, stop and think about how many good things will result. Consider the range of health benefits, the impact it has on your appearance, and even how it will help you to feel better about yourself in general. With both approaches or types of dental cleaning, you end up leaving the chair with something positive that you didn’t have when you first sat down.

Call and schedule a cleaning today. After it’s done, you’ll wonder why you waited so long.