If you’re looking for another good reason to brush your teeth at least twice daily and floss at least once daily, here’s one.
According to the National Institute on Aging, growing evidence links oral health to healthy aging, particularly dementia risk. Scientists studied older adults with and without mouth infections and gum disease. They found that those without these conditions are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
However, while good at-home oral hygiene can reduce the risk of mouth problems, it’s not enough to protect your pearly whites and gums. Thankfully, regular professional dental cleaning can help enhance your oral and overall health.
To that end, our expert and compassionate team at Pinnacle Dentistry, our Colorado Springs dental office, put together this guide on professional teeth cleaning. Please read on to discover their importance, benefits, and essential oral hygiene tips to help you keep your pearly whites for life!
Enhanced Plaque and Tartar Removal
Regular brushing and flossing are some of the most effective dental health tips, helping remove plaque from the surfaces of the teeth and the spaces between. Still, they don’t eliminate 100% of this sticky, translucent film that constantly forms on the teeth. Any unremoved plaque will harden into a chalky, yellowish substance called “tartar” or “dental calculus.”
Why Plaque and Tartar Needs Removing
As a study on MDPI.com explains, the oral microbiome (the collection of microorganisms in the mouth) has over 700 known bacterial species. Some are beneficial, but others are harmful, promoting oral diseases like tooth decay and gum disease. Many of these “bad” bacteria are in plaque, which contains saliva and food and beverage debris.
The bacteria that thrive in plaque feast on the sugars from foods and drinks you’ve had, turning them into acids. The acids then attack the tooth enamel (the outermost layer of the teeth). While the enamel is a hard substance, it will still break down over time if it’s always under attack by acids.
Unremoved plaque also turns into tartar after about one to three days. Tartar clings stubbornly to the teeth, making it impossible to remove with a toothbrush alone. According to the U.S. CDC, removing tartar already requires professional dental treatment.
As time passes, even more plaque can form and harden into tartar. The bacteria in these build-ups can spread under the gumline and cause inflammation.
All those problems can lead to dental cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss, further underscoring the importance of clean teeth.
How Professional Dental Cleaning Deals with Plaque and Tartar
Dental cleaning with a trustworthy dental hygienist or dentist in Colorado Springs starts with a routine dental checkup and examination. You’ll answer some questions about:
- Your dental history
- Your family health history
- If you experience symptoms
- If you have specific oral concerns
Your dental team will also perform a preliminary check for signs of decay or gum problems.
Then, the cleaning begins. Your dental team will remove plaque and tartar using specialized tools, including a scaler (a metal device with a hooked end). Scalers allow them to scrape deposits from the surfaces of the teeth and just below the gum line.
Your dentist may recommend a deep cleaning if the dental checkup reveals excessive build-up. The process involves scaling, in which the dentist scrapes away accumulation below the gum line. It may also include root planing, wherein your dentist smooths out tooth roots to help reattach the gums to the tooth.
According to the American Dental Association, scaling and root planing treatments can be especially helpful for patients with chronic periodontitis. Periodontitis is an advanced gum disease affecting nearly half of U.S. adults 30 and older.
Finally, your dentist will use a polisher to polish each of your pearly whites, helping smooth their surface. Polishing also helps gums adhere better to the tooth while removing stains and remaining tartar.
Find Hidden Cavities
While cavities often affect the visible surfaces of teeth, they can also develop in hidden areas, such as between the teeth. They can also hide under tartar build-ups or stains.
Since dental cleanings include a thorough checkup and stain and tartar removal, your dentist can discover hidden tooth decay. They can then administer appropriate treatment immediately (for example, with tooth-colored fillings). So, in this way, dental cleanings can help prevent oral health problems from worsening or developing.
Prevent or Detect Gum Disease Before It Worsens
Periodontal or gum disease is a progressive condition that gradually worsens at every stage. However, it’s possible to reverse the condition at its earliest stage, also known as gingivitis.
Since your dentist will see the state of your teeth and gums during a dental cleaning, they can determine if you have symptoms of gingivitis, such as:
- Gum puffiness or swelling
- Gums that appear darker than usual (dark red or bright red)
- Bleeding gums
- Gum tenderness
If you have gingivitis, professional dental cleaning, including scaling and root planing, will be your first line of treatment. If done soon after gingivitis has developed, it (together with continued optimal at-home oral hygiene) can be enough to reverse the condition. At the very least, it can help prevent the disease from worsening and advancing to periodontitis.
Minimize Risks of Tooth Loss
Tooth decay and gum disease are two leading causes of tooth loss in Americans.
As tooth decay progresses, the cavity worsens (or gets bigger), allowing more harmful bacteria to enter the tooth. The bacteria can then penetrate the deeper layers of the tooth, weakening it to the point that it can easily break or fall out. They can also cause severe infection, necessitating extraction.
Gum disease, on the other hand, can lead to tooth loss by causing deep infections that destroy tissue and bone. When tissues and bone supporting the teeth break down, the teeth will:
- Loosen from their sockets
- Fall out eventually, or
- Require extraction
While tooth decay and gum disease are prevalent, they’re highly preventable with good oral hygiene and regular dental cleanings. Remember: the primary causes of these mouth problems are plaque and tartar. So, by having your dentist remove them, you can minimize your risks of developing these oral health conditions.
Detect Symptoms of Conditions Outside the Mouth
Many health problems outside the oral cavity have symptoms that manifest in the mouth.
An example is diabetes, a common chronic condition in the U.S. that causes high blood glucose (sugar) levels. It has body-wide effects, and some of its symptoms affect the mouth. As the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases explains, people with diabetes are more likely to have:
- Gum disease
- Tooth cavities
- Other teeth and gum problems
Despite being prevalent, many people with diabetes don’t know they have it. In this case, visiting the dentist regularly (ideally every six months) for checkups and cleanings can help them become aware that they may have diabetes.
Other examples of health problems with oral symptoms are:
- Osteoporosis, which could manifest as loose teeth, gum disease, or jawbone loss
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which can cause tooth sensitivity or dental erosion due to stomach acid exposure
- Sleep apnea, the symptoms of which include worn teeth, dry mouth, or an enlarged tongue
Although dentists cannot definitively diagnose those conditions, they can still help and provide professional recommendations. For example, they may advise patients to consult a primary care physician for further evaluation and treatment.
Help Contribute to Better Nutrition
Remember, healthy teeth and gums allow you to bite and chew more efficiently, making every meal enjoyable and a wonderful dining experience. By contrast, eating with decayed teeth or gum disease can be torture. So, people with these conditions may shy away from having regular healthy meals, adversely affecting their nutritional intake.
Certain nutritional deficiencies can cause, contribute to, or worsen mouth problems. Here are some examples:
- Calcium and Vitamin D Deficiencies: Weak enamel, teeth that are more susceptible to cavities, and jaw problems
- Protein Deficiency: Weakened gum tissue and poor wound healing in the mouth
- Vitamin C Deficiency: Gums that bleed easily, gum inflammation, and poor wound healing
- Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Mouth ulcers, bad breath, and connective tissue detachment
Since regular professional dental cleanings help keep your teeth and gums healthy, they can also play a role in maintaining or achieving optimal nutrition. Because proper nutrition is crucial to oral and overall health, you want to eat without pain or discomfort and enjoy healthy, delicious, and nutritious meals.
Enjoy the Many Benefits of Regular Dental Cleaning
From removing plaque and tartar to finding and preventing tooth decay and gum disease, regular professional dental cleaning can help with all these (and more!). In the long run, it can help you maintain optimal oral health, letting you enjoy your pearly whites for life.
If you haven’t had a cleaning for some time or are looking for a new dental team in Colorado Springs, CO, Pinnacle Dentistry is here to help! Our team members and doctors are highly experienced and trusted throughout the community. Dr. Jennings brings over 35 years of family dentistry experience, while Dr. Perett has served patients for two decades.
Call us today to schedule your appointment! We look forward to discussing how our state-of-the-art treatments can help you achieve a healthier, more beautiful smile.
