For most of us, looking after our teeth is drummed into us from a young age and routinely brushing and flossing is second nature. While this is the most important thing that you can do to support your own dental health at home, any good dentist will also invite you for regular professional dental cleans. This is an opportunity for our dentist to undertake a truly thorough, deep clean of your teeth so that they both look awesome and are as healthy as possible.

If you brush your teeth and floss daily, you are probably wondering why you need to go for a professional dental cleaning. The fact is that although you try your hardest to do a very thorough job of cleaning your teeth and maintaining your oral health, there are just some areas that you just aren’t reaching. Our mouths and teeth are full of gaps and cracks that are perfect for debris and bacteria to hide in but are very difficult for a regular toothbrush or interdental cleaning device to access. It is in these hard to reach areas that plaque and eventually tartar are more likely to begin the process of causing decay and, in many cases, periodontal disease.

With your mouth wide open and a range of professional tools at his disposal, our dentist has unrestricted access to your teeth and is able to view and clean those areas that we might normally miss. Our dentist also has the equipment and skill to be able to remove any stubborn tartar, which is hardened plaque, that may have formed. This cannot be removed with a toothbrush alone so regular dental cleanings to check for tartar is essential.
 

How often are dental cleanings recommended?

Every patient and their oral health are unique and so you will almost certainly be given a recommendation based upon your personal circumstances. However, in most instances, a dentist will recommend that you undertake a professional clean twice a year. Studies have shown that adults who see their dentists regularly for professional dental cleans are significantly less likely to develop plaque-related dental diseases and their associated symptoms, which can include bad breath, toothache, infections and even tooth loss. Patients who suffer from periodontal disease may find that their wider health is also affected, since it has been linked to the development of chronic health problems including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, liver and kidney function issues and even Alzheimer’s disease.

We strongly advise that you follow the advice provided by our dentist and attend all recommended appointments, as your professional has the education, training and experience to make judgements based on your individual dental health.

If you have not had a professional dental cleaning in more than six months, or you are concerned about the health of your teeth, our friendly, experienced team would be happy to advise you or book you an appointment for a dental assessment. Please feel free to contact us and get in touch. We look forward to helping you achieve a brighter, healthier smile.