Hopefully, you know that brushing and flossing your teeth every day, at least twice a day, is essential to maintaining a clean, healthy, and disease-free smile. You should also know, however, that brushing and flossing isn’t enough to consistently protect your smile from the dangers that it can face. Today, we explain the importance of attending a professional dental cleaning at least once every six months, or as often as recommended, and why you should never skip an appointment.
Why a Toothbrush Isn’t Enough
Your toothbrush’s main target is the sticky substance that sometimes adheres to your teeth and gums, called plaque. Aside from being gross and uncomfortable, dental plaque is comprised of many different kinds of oral bacteria. Some of them are responsible for the onset of tooth decay, gum disease, and chronic bad breath, among other issues. Thoroughly brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day helps control plaque buildup. However, if you miss a spot, it doesn’t take long for plaque to calcify (harden) into tartar, which is more stubborn than plaque and impervious to your toothbrush and floss.
The Role of Professional Cleaning
Your home hygiene tools are no match for tartar. Thankfully, your dentist or hygienist can expertly remove tartar, residual dental plaque, and lingering bacteria from your teeth and underneath your gum line. Regular, consistent dental cleanings can help you eliminate harmful oral bacteria before they have a chance to harm your teeth and gums. With proper hygiene and a little diligence, you can avoid the need for extensive dental work to address serious dental health concerns.
Schedule Your Next Dental Cleaning Appointment
Keeping a consistent schedule of dental cleaning appointments is vital to keeping your smile safe from dental issues like severe tooth decay and gum disease. To learn more, or to schedule your next dental cleaning, call Syosset Dental in Syosset, NY today at 516-433-2211 or 516-921-1678.
