When you brush and floss your teeth at home every day, the point is to remove the buildup of plaque (oral bacteria and food particles) on your teeth and gumline. The bacteria in plaque can cause harm to your teeth and gums if enough of them accumulate. When you miss a spot, plaque will calcify into tartar (or calculus) and become insoluble. Since you can’t remove tartar with toothpaste and water, the only way to keep your smile healthy is to have your dentist or dental hygienist remove it during a routine professional cleaning.
Ironically, some people are more prone to skip a checkup and cleaning appointment if they’re especially attentive to their hygiene routines at home. This attentiveness can keep your smile free of most plaque buildup, but everyone can miss a spot now and then. If you believe that you’ve kept all bacteria at bay, then you may not consider a checkup and cleaning appointment necessary. However, this can give any unseen spots of plaque the time they need to grow and seriously threaten your oral health. The only way checkups and cleanings can keep your smile healthy is if you attend every visit regularly, as often as your dentist recommends.
Cleaning your teeth and gums is one part of a regular preventive appointment, but the other part involves carefully inspecting your teeth and gums to see if any problem has developed since your last visit. For example, plaque and tartar may have led to a cavity in your tooth, or the beginnings of gingivitis (early gum disease). If your exam reveals a concern, then we can consult with you to determine the best course of treatment and address the issue before it becomes more extensive.
Regular checkup and cleaning appointments are often the most important part of professional dental care. For more information, schedule a consultation by calling Newhall Dental Arts in Newhall, CA, today at (661) 259-7760.
When a tooth becomes infected, you could develop painful symptoms and over time, risk the…
When we place dental fillings, we want to not only stop tooth decay, but offer…
When you have dental misalignment, this can impact the health and beauty of your smile,…
A smile makeover means we can address multiple cosmetic concerns at once, transforming the overall…
Our cosmetic treatments are not just limited to professional teeth whitening. In fact, we have…
When you have stained teeth, the discoloration could cause embarrassment. Our team understands the beauty…