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The Importance of Dental Cleanings: How a Single Treatment Can Save Your Smile
Staying on top of routine dental visits can be essential to your overall health and well-being. Besides the work you put in daily brushing and flossing, getting routine dental cleanings with a dentist in Sumter, SC, can prevent more serious oral health complications and keep your smile bright and clean.
During a dental cleaning, your dentist removes plaque buildup in areas your toothbrush cannot reach. This helps prevent issues like gum disease or dental cavities, which can result in tooth loss over time.
What Are Dental Cleanings?
Dental cleanings are a non-surgical, routine procedure in which a dentist or dental hygienist helps remove plaque and tartar buildup on teeth and under the gums. Depending on the state of your teeth and gums when you arrive, professional cleanings can last between 30 minutes and an hour.
The main goal is to reduce your chances of cavities, gum disease, or tooth loss. The problem with dental issues is that they only worsen over time: tooth enamel lost by cavities doesn’t regrow—the same as gum tissue, which cannot be restored after resorption.
Even the smallest cavities can cause serious damage if they go unnoticed, so regular dental cleanings help identify these issues and suggest proper treatment immediately.
What Happens During a Dental Cleaning?
Dental cleanings are a simple procedure; however, all the cleaning and scraping can be a source of anxiety for patients who are not so comfortable with dental visits. Knowing what to expect can help make the procedure look much less scary in these cases.
- Before beginning to clean the buildup from your teeth, a dental professional will conduct a thorough examination of your mouth.
- Once the cleaning process starts, the surfaces of your teeth are cleared of calculus and plaque. This is accomplished through scaling, which can be carried out by power-driven scalers or by hand.
- After that, an abrasive paste is used to polish teeth to remove any remaining plaque and stains. After polishing, flossing is necessary.
- A fluoride treatment is often administered after the visit to help maintain the strength of your teeth and avoid cavities.
How Often Should I Get Dental Cleanings?
Your dentist will advise you how often you should have a dental cleaning based on your particular situation.
Typically, bi-annual cleanings are the go-to choice for your oral health, but if you exhibit symptoms of gum disease, you may need to schedule cleanings more frequently.
Protect Your Smile with a Dentist in Sumter, SC
The secret to good oral health lies in prevention, and regular dental cleanings play a big role. Attending your routine cleanings helps with maintaining good oral health, preventing oral diseases, and discovering issues.
This won’t only benefit your oral health, but also your overall well-being, as studies have found links between your mouth and your systemic health. Here at Wesmark Family Dentistry, we want to protect your quality of life with state-of-the-art technology and a commitment to excellence. If you’re due for a dental cleaning, contact us today!
