Every six months, you should attend a cleaning visit with our team. This simple procedure is crucial for protecting smiles from issues like cavities, gum disease, bad breath, and more! In today’s blog, your Livonia, MI, dentist explains how we clean the smile, and what steps you can take at home to avoid plaque buildup.
The Causes of Buildup
Plaque buildup accumulates when bacteria break down the particles left behind on and between our teeth by the foods and drinks we consume. As bacteria consume these particles, this elevates the levels of oral acidity and coats the teeth in a sticky bacterial buildup, weakening outer enamel and leading to a higher risk of tooth decay. The process also irritates the gums and inflames them, boosting the chances of gingivitis and gum disease over time. Consuming foods and drinks high in sugar, as well as poor oral hygiene, could help promote this bacterial byproduct.
The Cleaning Process
While brushing and flossing limit how much plaque accumulates, they cannot remove buildup that has already formed. To do this, we need to offer a professional dental cleaning, which breaks up and removes buildup from the surfaces of the teeth. We then polish the teeth to ensure a brighter appearance. The process only takes a few minutes to completely, and has been shown to lower the risk of tooth decay and gum disease, and helps keep the teeth bright. Since plaque is a source of bad breath, this also helps treat halitosis too. If you have the early indicators of gum disease, such as sore, red gums that bleed easily, we may recommend a deep cleaning that removes plaque from the teeth and the roots, taking between one and four visits, and allows us to manage gum disease and prevent periodontitis, the stage of the disease linked to adult tooth loss.
Maintenance From Home
To help control buildup and protect smiles in between your six-month visits, we suggest brushing your teeth for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste when you wake up and again before going to bed. You also need to floss every night before bed, and try to cut back on sugary foods and drinks. These actions help strengthen your smile, preserving oral health and smile beauty! If you have any questions about this procedure, or if you would like to schedule one for you or a member of your family, then contact our team today.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT PREVENTIVE DENTAL CLEANINGS?
Routine visits help remove plaque and improve the health, beauty, and stability of the smile. For more information on removing bacterial buildup, or to schedule a consultation, call the office of James Stewart, DDS in Livonia, MI, today at (734) 425-4400.