There are several options for restoring a smile that’s cosmetically marred or infected with disease. With today’s advanced dental techniques and materials, your new smile can look and function as though it were your natural one. However, preventing dental issues from developing in the first place is the most effective method of prolonging your smile’s shelf-life. To help improve your dental hygiene routine’s power to prevent problems, we explain why regular professional dental cleanings are important, and what preventive dental care entails.

Doing more than what you can do at home

Your oral health depends on controlling the bacteria that form dental plaque on your teeth and gums. Brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day is the basis for this control, but if you miss a spot, then plaque can calcify (harden) into tartar. As an insoluble substance, tartar is impervious to your toothbrush and floss. At your regular dental cleaning, your dentist or hygienist will use professional instruments and expertise to thoroughly remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and gums, reducing your risk of developing damaging dental diseases.

Seeing more than you can see on your own

Though vital, cleaning isn’t the only service you receive during your dental visit. As part of your comprehensive oral exam, your dentist will also thoroughly inspect your teeth, gums, mouth, throat, and other oral tissues for signs of impending trouble. Tooth decay and gum disease are more effectively resolved when they’re detected and treated early. Aside from looking for common dental health issues, your dentist will also perform an extensive oral cancer screening to check for lesions, growths, or other abnormalities, and can refer you to a specialist immediately if necessary.

Schedule Your Next Dental Cleaning

To learn more, or to schedule your next dental cleaning, call Brighton Family Dental Group in Brighton, MA, today at (617) 562-5210. We proudly welcome patients from Brighton, Watertown, Cambridge, Brookline, Newton, and all surrounding communities.