10 Reasons Why You Should Get Your Teeth Cleaned Twice a Year

When you think about your health, the first thing that comes to mind is probably exercise and diet. However, there are other essential aspects of general health that most people tend to overlook. 

Your oral health plays a significant role in your general well-being and affects your general quality of life. 

That’s why dentists recommend dental check-up and cleaning as one of the essential self-care practices that you should never neglect. 

Taking care of your teeth and getting regular dental check-ups may not seem as urgent as other health issues. However, they are just as important and can prevent serious health issues in the future. 

In this article, we’ll look at the benefits of regular dental check-ups and cleanings, as well as the importance of oral hygiene.

The Need for Regular Dental Visits

Regular visits to the dentist are one of the most important things that you can do to keep your teeth healthy as it can help prevent serious dental problems. 

By checking on the health of your teeth, gums, and other parts of your mouth, your dentist can catch issues before they become serious. 

A regular check-up and cleaning can help protect you from a variety of dental issues including:

• Bad breath: 

Bad breath is one of the most common reasons why people visit their dentist. It can be caused by a number of different things, such as food debris, plaque build-up, and tartar. 

Regular visits to your dentist will help you avoid bad breath and other dental problems that can cause it.

• Tooth decay or cavities: 

When plaque is allowed to build up on teeth it can harden into tartar deposits. Eventually these tartar deposits will begin to decay or erode away the enamel coating on our teeth. 

This process allows bacteria to get into our tooth structure, where they cause further damage. If left untreated this process can eventually lead to tooth loss and gum disease. 

A dental cleaning removes plaque and tartar from our teeth and helps keep us from developing cavities in the future. 

Regular cleanings also help prevent tooth decay from starting in the first place by removing plaque before it has time to harden into tartar deposits that are harder for us to remove ourselves at home.

• Infections: 

In addition to bacteria that cause cavities, some bacteria can cause serious infections in our mouths that can lead to other health problems if not treated promptly. 

Dental infections can spread to other parts of our bodies and cause serious problems, including heart attacks and strokes. 

A dental cleaning helps us detect infections early and treat them before they become more serious.

• Gum disease: 

Gum disease is a serious oral health condition that negatively affects the health of your teeth and jawbone. 

Untreated gum disease can lead to tooth loss and other serious health conditions. 

The best way to prevent gum disease is to maintain good oral hygiene and visit your dentist for regular check-ups. 

Your dentist can help detect gum disease during routine exams and recommend ways to prevent the condition from worsening.

• Oral cancer: 

Oral cancer is a serious disease that can lead to death if not detected and treated in its early stages. Oral cancer can occur in many places in the mouth, including the tongue, lips, and gums. 

Early detection and treatment are the keys to the successful treatment of oral cancer. 

Regular dental check-ups are the best way to detect oral cancer early. 

Your dentist will examine your mouth for signs of oral cancer during your regular dental visits.

Keeping up with your regular dental visits ensures that you’re always in tip-top dental health. By making sure that you get the recommended amount of care, you can help prevent problems from developing.

How Many Times a Year Should I Visit My Dentist?

Everyone knows that you should visit your dentist for a check-up and cleaning at least twice a year.

But for many of us, that recommendation remains something we put off until tomorrow. The result is a lot of people with tooth decay, gum disease, and other issues that could have been prevented.

Here are a few reasons why you should visit your dentist at least twice a year:

• You can identify and treat problems before they get worse:

If you have a toothache, you are already dealing with a problem that’s progressed to a more serious level.

At your cleaning appointment, your dentist will be able to take an in-depth look at your teeth and gums.

They can examine for early signs of decay and look for any other potential issues, like gum recession caused by misalignment of the teeth, and take preventative steps to stop them from getting worse.

If you don’t get your teeth professionally cleaned and examined, these problems will go undetected and could get worse over time.

• Your breath will smell fresher:

Bad breath is a common problem that most of us don’t like to talk about. But it does get in the way of socialising and can affect your confidence and self-esteem.

The best solution is to visit your dentist twice a year for a check-up and cleaning.

Your dentist can help you by removing the bacteria that cause bad breath and other odours.

Regular cleanings can help you prevent bad breath in the first place, as well as any gum disease or tooth decay that may have already started.

• You’ll reduce your risk of gum disease and tooth loss:

If you don’t visit your dentist, you could be putting yourself at risk of developing gum disease and tooth loss. This is because plaque and tartar build-up on your teeth, which can lead to gum disease if not removed.

Plaque and tartar can also cause long-term damage to your gums, which could eventually lead to tooth loss.

Regular visits to your dentist help you control these risks and keep your gums healthy and strong.

• Your dentist can screen for oral cancer:

Oral cancer is a rare form of cancer that can affect your mouth, lips, gums, tongue, and the inside of your cheeks.

Most cases of oral cancer occur in people over the age of 50, but it can also affect younger patients.

If your dentist spots a possible problem during your regular check-up and cleaning, they can remove a tissue sample and send it to a lab for testing.

Oral cancer screenings can also be done with a visual inspection, looking for signs like red patches or lumps in the mouth.

Getting your teeth cleaned twice a year is a great way to stay on top of your oral health, and it can save your life.

• It’s an excellent opportunity to ask questions and learn more about your dental health:

During your teeth cleaning, your dentist will also have the opportunity to educate you about your dental health.

They can show you what’s going on in your mouth, and they can tell you about any issues or concerns they have discovered.

And if you have questions about your dental health, regular cleanings are a great time to ask your dentist.

They might even have recommendations for products that could help you to improve your oral health, like better toothbrushes or special toothpaste.

• More frequent cleanings mean less severe procedures later:

Getting your teeth cleaned every six months is a great way to catch issues before they become more serious.

If you wait until serious dental issues have set in, they will take longer and be more costly to correct.

Many people wait until they have no other option before getting serious dental work done, such as a root canal or tooth extraction.

Getting regular cleanings and follow-up appointments can help you get ahead of any issues before they progress to the point of needing more serious treatment.

• It doesn’t cost that much – and it’s worth every dollar:

A single cleaning can cost between $250 - $350 at a dental office.

Many dental plans cover at least part of that cost. That might seem like a lot, but when you consider the alternatives, it’s a small price to pay.

If you don’t get regular cleanings and have serious dental issues, you could end up paying much more in the long run.

Plus, you’ll be in pain and have a harder time eating.

Getting dental work done is expensive, and even a single root canal can cost thousands of dollars. A single dental cleaning is a small investment that can prevent a lot of pain, suffering, and financial trouble down the road.

• By scheduling regular cleanings, you’ll build good habits for life:

Getting your teeth cleaned regularly is a great way to build good oral health habits - and good dental habits are something that lasts a lifetime.

Many people are tempted to put off regular dental check-ups and cleanings because they feel like it’s unnecessary. But the truth is that dental cleanings are the best way to keep your teeth healthy.

So, What if You Don’t Get Your Teeth Cleaned?

By not getting your teeth cleaned regularly, you could be putting yourself at greater risk of gum disease, tooth decay, and other dental issues.

The longer you wait to visit the dentist, the more likely it is that you’ll develop some of these problems, which if left untreated, can affect your quality of life and even lead to some serious health issues.

The only way to prevent these problems is to make sure you get your teeth cleaned at least twice a year.

By having your teeth professionally cleaned and examined, you’ll be able to catch problems early and prevent them from becoming serious dental issues.

It’s important to remember that just because you don’t have any tooth decay or gum disease doesn’t mean you won’t need some dental work in the future.

If you don’t clean your teeth regularly, you may find yourself needing a root canal, crown, or other major dental work at some point down the road.

So, make sure to schedule regular check-ups with your dentist and get your teeth cleaned every six months.

What to Expect During Your Dental Visit

Before you head to the dentist, know what to expect. Here’s what your dentist might do when you visit:

• Fill out some forms:

When you arrive at the dentist’s office, they will ask you to fill out some forms. These include a form that asks about your medical history and a form that explains what you’re there for.

• Take X-rays:

Your dentist will probably ask you to sit in a chair, and then have you lay down so he or she can take an X-ray of your mouth.

The X-rays will show if any cavities are developing and may show areas where decay is already present.

• Talk about your dental history:

The dentist will want to know everything about your health and family history, including whether anyone in the family has had dental problems before.

He or she may also ask questions about how much you brush and floss your teeth and how often you have visited the dentist in the past.

• Examine and clean the inside of each tooth:

Your dentist will look for any signs of decay and other problems that could cause pain or tooth loss, such as an abscessed tooth or a cracked tooth.

• Test the strength and sensitivity of each tooth:

This test can help your dentist find problems such as weak teeth or sensitivity in teeth that are not damaged but could be causing pain when touched.

• Check gums for signs of gum disease or bad breath:

Your dentist may use a special device to check the colour, condition, shape, and size of your gums as well as any signs of gum disease like bleeding or swelling.

• Removing Tartar Build-up

Your dentist will remove any tartar build-up from around each tooth using a tool that looks like a small pick with a tip on one end.

Tartar is a substance that forms on the teeth when you don't brush and floss often enough.

• At-Home Dental Care Instructions

Finally, you will be given instructions for home care, including how often to floss and brush your teeth, what you can do to prevent tooth decay or gum disease, and details about when you should see your dentist again.

Now that you know what to expect, you can be confident that your dental visit will be a positive experience.

Remember, if you’re nervous about your first visit to the dentist, don’t be. It’s completely normal. You can always call your dentist if you have any questions or concerns.

How to Maintain Healthy Oral Hygiene at Home?

Before we finish up, let's talk about home care.

Visiting your dentist twice a year is essential for maintaining good oral health, but it’s also important to know what you can do at home to help keep your teeth healthy.

Here are some tips to help you take care of your teeth at home:

• Brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. A regular toothbrush should be replaced every three months, or sooner if it’s not cleaning effectively, is worn down, or if the bristles are frayed.

• Floss your teeth every day. This is especially important for people with braces since dental floss can be used to clean between teeth and around braces.

• Rinse your mouth after each meal to remove food particles and bacteria.

• Wear a mouth guard if you grind your teeth at night or during sleep.

• Don’t smoke or chew tobacco. These habits cause bad breath and gum disease, which often leads to tooth loss.

• Avoid chewing on hard objects such as nails or pencils to prevent damage to your teeth and gums.

• Drink plenty of water to keep your mouth and teeth healthy. Water helps to wash away harmful plaque, and it helps you to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Following these simple steps can help you to keep your teeth and gums healthy and set you on the road to a lifetime of great smiles. Afterall, it’s not too much to ask, is it?

Conclusion

By keeping our teeth clean and healthy we can avoid many of the problems that plague our mouths, from tooth decay to gum disease, infection and even loss of teeth.

Visiting your dentist at least twice a year for regular check-ups and cleaning will help to keep your teeth and gums healthy and strong.