Despite the fact that it’s common knowledge, may patients do not fully realize the importance of maintaining regular dental visits. Or, the role that preventive dentistry plays in preserving their natural, heathy, beautiful smiles.
The general rule is to attend a dental cleaning and checkup at least once every six months. However, if your smile is in trouble, then you might require more frequent visits to bring your dental health back under control. By sticking to your regularly-scheduled dental cleaning appointments, however, you can reduce the risks of having to visit more often, or needing extensive restorative treatment later.
The Point of Preventive Dentistry
Few things are as refreshing as how your teeth feel in the morning after you brush away the plaque that has covered them overnight. Hours later, however, you may feel the film covering your teeth once again.
Besides its annoying presence, dental plaque is the most persistent threat to your teeth and gums, housing hundreds of different kinds of oral bacteria. Mixed with saliva and food particles, plaque continuously gathers on your teeth, which is why you must brush and floss your teeth at least twice every day. Routine dental cleanings allow your dentist and hygienist to more thoroughly clean leftover plaque from your teeth, as well as plaque’s calcified form, tartar.
What if You Wait Too Long?
Unlike plaque, tartar cannot be removed with home hygiene, but requires the professional instruments of your dental hygienist. If you wait too long between appointments, then the bacteria in tartar can overwhelm your teeth and gums, leading to destructive issues like tooth decay and gum disease. Instead of a dental cleaning, you may require more extensive periodontal therapy, such as scaling and root planing, to regain your oral health by the time you visit.
