You’re already brushing your teeth and flossing your smile as recommended by your dentist, that’s great! There is one more component of a healthy oral hygiene routine that you need to make sure you’re keeping up with: your professional dental cleanings. Keep reading to learn more from our Santa Monica dentist…
The American Dental Association recommends that dental patients complete professional oral health cleanings every six months or so. Some people, those who are managing diabetes, for example, may need to schedule appointments more frequently. Your dentist will let you know if you should deviate from the general six-month cleaning recommendation.
It is crucial that you regularly undergo professional cleanings because, to put it plainly, you just can’t get rid of all your dental plaque and tartar by brushing and flossing alone. The longer these things are allowed to fester in your smile, the more likely you are to suffer from cavities and gum disease.
Tartar, in particular, is pretty much impossible to clean off of your teeth at home. Tartar is calcified plaque, and once it is bonded to your smile, it’s best to have a dentist remove it using professional tools.
So why six months? Six months is just a general guideline, that helps patients refresh their smiles regularly enough so as to minimize their respective risks of developing cavities and gum disease. The goal is to refresh and clean your smile, so that you can maintain it to the best of your ability until your next professional cleaning.
Regularly scheduled appointments also allow our team to screen your smile for developing problems as well as oral cancers. These assessments empower you to treat oral health problems before they get out of control.
Our Santa Monica dentists are here to help you no matter where you’re at with your oral health currently. Even if it has been years since you’ve seen a dentist, give us a call and get back on track!