We want to offer a professional cleaning for our patients every six months. Doing so helps brighten smiles, and also fights the onset of tooth decay and gum disease. In today’s blog, your Brighton, MA, dentist talks about how a simple cleaning can help keep your smile bright and healthy.
The Dangers of Plaque and Tartar Buildup
Plaque forms on the surfaces of our teeth over time, caused by bacteria in the mouth breaking down and consuming particles of sugar and starch left behind by the foods and drinks we consume. This sticky layer cannot be removed completely from the teeth with brushing and flossing alone, and can harden with time into tartar. The buildup can cause bad breath, teeth stains, and increase the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. But our team can remove these harmful layers every few months with a professional dental cleaning.
Dental Cleanings
We want to see you and your family every six months, which is part of your routine checkup visit. The procedure involves our team using an ultrasonic scaling device, which emits gentle vibrations to remove all plaque and tartar from the teeth. We also use a manual pick for the more stubborn portions of tartar. The process only takes a short time, and can help improve the health of your smile. The last step is to polish the teeth, which brightens them and also helps limit the ability for plaque and tartar to cling to your teeth. At home, you can help limit buildup severity in between visits by brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes and flossing every evening.
Periodontal Treatment
If we find you have severe buildup and the warning signs of gum disease, such as roe, red gums that bleed easily or receding gums, then you may need a periodontal cleaning. Also known as a scaling and root planing, we use the same tools to revive buildup from both the teeth and the roots, and form beneath the gum line too. This is more involved and we will numb your smile beforehand, and this could take one visit or multiple ones, depending on the severity of your buildup. We again polish your teeth afterward, and we may suggest routine cleanings every three to four months to better manage the disease.
If you have any questions, or if you want to schedule your next visit, then contact our team.
Talk to Brighton Family Dental About Your Next Visit
We want to help control harmful buildup and keep your smile bright. Learn more about the benefits of our preventive visits by calling us at Brighton Family Dental Group in Brighton, MA, today at (617) 562-5210.
