Having your teeth professionally cleaned once every six months is one of the best steps you can take toward maintaining optimal oral health. Brushing and flossing at home daily are both essential components of an effective oral hygiene routine, but professional cleanings are more thorough. We provide teeth cleanings at Grand Dental in Sun City, where Dr. Matthew Wessel, Dr. Joseph Santoro, or Dr. Matthew Cichowski can help you achieve your best oral health.
Importance of Professional Teeth Cleanings
The importance of professional teeth cleanings cannot be emphasized enough. They can play a critical role in achieving and maintaining optimal oral health. Even if you have a highly effective daily oral hygiene routine, plaque, and tartar can still form on teeth and can be difficult to remove with brushing and flossing alone.
Plaque is a sticky film filled with bacteria, while tartar is a hard calculus deposit that builds up on teeth and can stain them. Both can be challenging to remove without the use of special dental tools. When plaque and tartar are not removed from teeth, they can contribute to an increased risk of gum infection, tooth decay, and periodontal disease. Dental professionals have the training, skills, and tools needed to thoroughly clean plaque and tartar off of teeth, even below the gum line.
How to Prepare for Your Appointment
Once you come into our office in Sun City for your teeth cleaning appointment, all you need to do is sit back and relax while our dental professionals thoroughly clean your teeth. However, there are a few things you can do to prepare ahead of time. For example, it is best to avoid using whitening products shortly before teeth cleaning. Whitening treatments can sometimes leave teeth a bit sensitive so it is best to hold off on whitening until after your appointment.
Another step you can take to prepare is to write down any questions you want to ask during your appointment so there is no risk of forgetting. If you wear an oral appliance, such as an orthodontic retainer, night guard for teeth grinding, or sleep apnea or snore appliance, you can bring those with you. Tartar can form on oral appliances so it is beneficial to have it professionally cleaned when you come in for your teeth cleaning.
Finally, consider rescheduling your appointment if you are feeling ill. Professional cleanings often involve scraping tooth surfaces just below the gum line to remove tartar build-up. It is possible for small amounts of bacteria to enter the bloodstream, which is normally not an issue but could be problematic for individuals whose immune system is compromised due to illness.
Professional teeth cleanings are one of the best ways to maintain excellent oral health. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Wessel, Dr. Santoro, or Dr. Cichowski for an oral exam and cleaning, call Grand Dental in Sun City at (623) 972-2156.