Dental Health
There’s no question that having a clean, healthy smile can make you feel good about how you look and how you feel.
Although you may do a thorough job brushing and cleaning between your teeth each day, your smile needs and deserves a regular professional cleaning at the dental office. That’s because plaque, a clear, sticky film of bacteria, constantly forms on teeth. As plaque collects it forms a hard layer of tartar, or calculus, especially in hard-to-reach areas near the gumline and between teeth.
The bacteria found in plaque create toxins that irritate the gums, causing them to become inflamed or bleed easily. If the irritation continues for some time, the gums may pull away from the teeth, forming pockets that collect more bacteria. Eventually the gum tissue and underlying bone may be destroyed and teeth may become loose.
Recent research suggests there may be a link between gum disease and other health concerns such as cardiovascular problems, stroke, bacterial pneumonia and increased risk during pregnancy. Although more studies are needed, researchers suspect that the bacteria associated with gum disease play a role in affecting these systemic problems.
Preventing gum disease is an important step in maintaining overall health.
You can help keep your smile healthy by:
- Brushing twice a day
- Cleaning between teeth with floss or an interdental cleaner (special picks or sticks) once a day to help remove plaque that a toothbrush can’t reach.
- When choosing a dental care product, look for those that display the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance, your assurance that they have met ADA standards of safety and effectiveness.
While brushing and cleaning between teeth will help remove a great deal of plaque, it’s nearly impossible to eliminate all of it. And once plaque hardens into tartar, the only way it can be removed is with professional teeth cleaning at the dental office. Besides having your teeth cleaned, regular dental visits are crucial to preventing tooth decay, gum diseases and other disorders that affect the mouth.
During the cleaning, the dentist or hygienist will remove the hardened deposits with manual scalers. They may use an ultrasonic machine that produces sound waves to vibrate free the hard deposits. Loose particles are removed with a stream of water.
After the teeth are cleaned, they may be polished with a mild compound that is applied with a spray or a small rotating cup. Polishing the teeth helps remove stains and smoothes tooth surfaces, making it more difficult for plaque to adhere.
To help prevent tooth decay, your dentist may recommend a remineralization treatment or a dental sealant. Remineralization strengthens tooth enamel and a dental sealant protects the chewing surfaces of teeth from plaque bacteria. Although these treatments are commonly recommended for children and adolescents, adults also can benefit from them.
Call us today to start on your path of total body wellness.
