You brush your teeth twice a day. You floss every night. But even when you’re dedicated to your oral health care at home, it’s not quite enough. The American Dental Association recommends professional dental cleanings and check-ups every six months, and there are plenty of reasons why.
1. You don’t have the tools to get your teeth completely clean.
Plaque and tartar are pesky deposits on your teeth and, once they’ve latched on, the precise tools and meticulous work of a dental hygienist are needed to eliminate them. Bacteria are happy to find a home in plaque. Left to fester and grow, the film of plaque and tartar can cause tooth decay and lead to gum disease.
Plaque typically forms in between the teeth, but also in the pits and grooves of teeth and along the gum line. Flossing digs deep and pulls out bacteria and food particles but, without professional removal of these deposits, they will stick around and cause damage.
2. Your Johns Creek dentist takes care of more than just your teeth.
Part of your dental check-up includes the dentist’s examination of your mouth as a whole – teeth, gums, palette, tongue, and throat – as well as a check of the lymph nodes and lower jaw joints. The exam may seem brief, but your Johns Creek dentist is specially trained to instantly recognize problems, including signs of oral cancer. Along with dental x-rays, the dental exam provides a thorough picture of your oral health – a view that only a dentist can have.
3. The dentist will recognize problems you don’t.
You know something is wrong with your oral health if you have pain, bleeding, swelling, or loose teeth. But this is not the time to self-diagnose or assume the problem will go away on its own. It won’t. It’s your Johns Creek dentist’s job to identify what’s going on with your teeth and gums and make recommendations about the best course of treatment.
It’s essential to tackle a problem like gingivitis before it turns into full-blown, painful gum disease that threatens the solidity of your teeth and overall oral health. It’s important to tend to a cracked tooth before the crack grows, breaks your tooth, and allows bacteria to get inside, requiring a root canal or even extraction.
From tooth decay to loose teeth, broken teeth to damaged fillings, any and all dental problems are recognized at your dental exams so you walk away from your dentist’s office with healthy teeth and, if necessary, follow-up appointments to take care of any problems.
Make Dental Cleanings and Check-Ups a Priority
Consistency is key when it comes to oral health. Being consistent in your brushing and flossing efforts at home, and sticking with your dental appointments every six months. Allowing your Johns Creek dentist the privilege of taking care of your dental health twice a year means an expert will be able to compare your dental health to the state of your teeth and gums from the previous appointment. Comparisons and a baseline of oral health ensure that your dentist will be able to tell when something isn’t right.
It’s our goal and Dr. Mitul Patel’s pleasure to help you maintain healthy teeth and gums. Contact Hello Family Dental to schedule your family’s dental cleanings and check-ups.
