Do I have to Get my Dental Cleaning Twice a Year? Yes: Here are the top benefits of teeth cleaning:

Recommendations for dental cleanings may range from 2 to 6 times a year. How can you wade through this information and misinformation to find the right timing for your professional cleanings? Our team at Langley Dental Care recommends at least twice yearly visits to ensure our patients can enjoy teeth cleaning benefits throughout the year. 

Top Benefits of Professional Cleanings

Here’s a list of the top benefits of teeth cleaning:

1. Cleaner Teeth

The benefits of a dental cleaning start with cleaner teeth. Your home toothbrush cannot remove tartar from your teeth. Therefore, even if you have the most state-of-the-art electric toothbrush, you will still need professional cleanings to get your teeth as clean as possible.

Another benefit of cleaner teeth is the ability to get that squeaky clean feeling from the polishing process the hygienist uses on your teeth. That is something else that you cannot replicate at home. 

2. Gum Disease Prevention and Screening

Plaque and tartar buildup can promote the development and progression of gum disease. The symptoms of periodontal disease are often so subtle that most people don’t know they have it until they have a dental cleaning. The hygienist will also examine your gums to look for signs of inflammation, bone loss, and infection that indicate you have periodontal disease. Like other oral health issues, gum disease responds best to early intervention.

Therefore, if you have regular dental cleanings, you lower your chances of periodontal disease. Plus, if you do have this condition, you can get it treated with scaling or root planing before it progresses to the most severe stages that can cause tooth loss and serious pain. 

3. Stain Removal

If you struggle with getting a brighter smile, you will be happy to know that one of the benefits of teeth cleaning is surface stain removal. While this process does not whiten your teeth – you need a separate cosmetic dental procedure for teeth whitening – it does help your teeth look cleaner.

The polishing phase of dental cleaning helps to remove surface stains from the teeth. If you are a regular coffee, wine, or tea drinker, these stains may seem like a part of life. However, professional cleanings can get rid of them, improving the brightness of your smile. 

4. Plaque and Tartar Removal

While regular brushing can remove plaque, the places that you miss during brushing can develop tartar. This substance is the hardened form of plaque, also known as calculus, that does not come off with regular brushing. A trained professional needs to scrape off this tartar from each tooth. Don’t try this task yourself, though. You could cause injury in the mouth. By removing tartar and plaque from your teeth, a hygienist gets rid of places where bacteria can stick to the teeth and cause tooth and gum problems. 

5. Overall Health Improvement

Good oral hygiene is essential for overall health. In fact, studies have linked poor oral health to cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. While the exact reasons remain unknown, doctors know that bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream and travel to other parts of the body, causing issues. For this reason, treating dental infections quickly is essential to preventing systemic infections.

Taking care of your teeth through regular dental cleanings can prevent infections and keep you healthier overall. 

6. Dental Cost Reduction

If one of the reasons you don’t go to the dentist more frequently is the cost, consider another of the benefits of teeth cleaning – cost reduction. Part of the reason that some people spend more at the dentist is the number of services they need. For instance, someone who needs a cavity filled will spend more than someone who only needs a regular exam.

With regular dental cleanings, you keep your teeth healthier and prevent tooth decay. By avoiding decay and the additional problems caused by it, you can spend less at the dentist’s office because you won’t need restorative procedures such as fillings, crowns, or root canal treatments.

However, if you need help paying for your dental care, don’t put off the procedures. Talk to us at the office, and we can offer you alternatives to help you pay for your oral care. These financial options include flexible payment plans or third-party credit. Plus, we always accept major credit cards and many dental insurance providers. 

7. Tooth Loss Prevention

Periodontal disease is a common cause of tooth loss, especially in older adults. The best way to prevent gum disease is to have a good oral hygiene regime both at home and with help from the dentist. Your oral healthcare should include daily brushing and flossing. Plus, you need twice-a-year dental cleanings to remove plaque and tartar.

As noted, these substances make gum disease more likely because they encourage bacterial grown under the gum line. Since you cannot get rid of tartar without a hygienist, you must have regular cleanings to minimize your chances of gum disease. 

8. Reduce Dental Anxieties

Lastly, making regular visits to the dentist for cleanings helps to reduce anxiety. When you know the staff at your dental office, you can feel more comfortable talking to them about your concerns. Good communication goes a long way toward improving your physical and mental comfort. So, get to know your dental office staff by making regular appointments for cleanings and exams. 

Get the Benefits of a Dental Cleaning in Charlotte, NC, from Langley Dental Care

Make the most of your dental health care by incorporating twice-annual dental visits for cleanings and exams. When you do, you can reap the benefits of teeth cleaning from a professional hygienist. If you are in the Charlotte, NC, area and need a dental office you can trust for preventative, cosmetic, and restorative care, trust us at Langley Dental Care. Our team has experienced, friendly dental hygienists that want to help each patient achieve and maintain healthy, great-looking teeth and gums. Contact us today to schedule your visit.