When you consider the risks of not maintaining the health of your teeth and gums with teeth cleanings, it makes perfect sense to schedule twice-yearly visits to see our dentist in Sacramento. Plaque erodes your tooth enamel slowly, but steadily. Eventually, it forms holes in them, or what we know as cavities. Dr. Patel will, of course, treat any cavity you have with a filling.
However, the larger a cavity gets, the more prone you are to bacteria getting into the pulp of your tooth and causing an infection. The results of that are typically the need for root canal therapy, or maybe even a tooth extraction. That's because plaque, and its hardened form, tartar, never rest. They are working 24/7. And they also have a negative impact on your gums. This starts with irritation and mild reddening. That can turn into inflammation. And then as gum disease progresses to its more advanced stage, infection can take hold. You can end up with unpleasant symptoms such as persistent bad breath, receding gums, bleeding gums when you brush, and even loose teeth. Our dentist in Sacramento doesn't want that to happen to you. The good news is that teeth cleanings can not only make the likelihood of cavities decrease, but also will stop and reverse the encroachment of gum disease in its early stage, gingivitis.
Teeth cleanings eradicate all of the plaque in your mouth that has managed to stay out of reach of your toothbrush and dental floss. More importantly, it means the elimination of tartar, which cannot be removed by brushing and flossing at all. When you get finished with this process, which is not at all painful, your mouth will feel fresh for a very good reason: because it is. It will put you in the best possible position to keep your teeth and gums healthy and strong. Our dentist in Sacramento also suggests that you eat a nutritious diet, limit your sugar intake, brush after every meal, and floss thoroughly once per day. Combined with trips to our office every six months for a full dental checkup and teeth cleaning, you can feel confident that your teeth and gums will remain in a state of optimal well-being.
By Upen J Patel, DDS
April 18, 2016