Your daily at-home dental hygiene routine is so important for helping you minimize your risk of suffering from cavities, gum disease, and bad breath. In order to effectively care for your smile, however, you really need to combine at-home care with professional dental cleanings.
The American Dental Association recommends that patients of all ages complete professional dental cleanings every six months or so. Some people will need to have their smiles cleaned more regularly—your dentist will let you know if this applies to you!
In this short article, our Elmhurst dentists are talking about why professional appointments and cleanings are so important…
No matter how diligently you clean your smile at home, there will always be a little bit of plaque and tartar that remains on your teeth and gums. Over time, bacteria can compound and lead to cavities and gum disease. During your professional cleaning, our team will remove that hard-to-reach plaque and give your smile a fresh start, which you’ll then work to maintain until your next appointment!
During your dental appointment, our dentist will also complete an oral cancer screening. Unfortunately, many types of oral cancer develop asymptomatically in the beginning; this can make it difficult for patients to recognize oral cancers in their earliest stages. Undergoing regularly scheduled oral cancer screenings will increase your likelihood of being able to identify and seek treatment for oral cancers in their earliest stages.
Finally, dental appointments give us a great opportunity to help you tweak your dental treatment plan and at-home oral hygiene routine. If we notice that your gums look tender, or your mouth has more plaque than usual, we can help you figure out how to address these problems before they become more severe.
Even if it has been a long time since you’ve been in to see a dentist, our Elmhurst dentists are here to help you (and never to judge!). Give us a call to schedule your consultation!