Brushing and flossing on a regular basis can go a long way towards keeping your teeth healthy and preventing long-term damage. However, here are two reasons why even people who are meticulous about their oral hygiene should still visit a dentist for professional cleanings on a regular basis.
Lower Your Risk of Heart Attacks and Strokes
There's mounting evidence your oral health has a great impact on your overall health. For example, according to a variety of studies, periodontal disease can increase your risk of heart attacks because the harmful bacteria in your mouth migrate through your bloodstream and aggravate already damaged blood vessels and valves, increasing the risk of an adverse event.
While your regular teeth cleaning regimen can keep gingivitis and periodontal disease at bay, one study indicates professional cleanings can further decrease your risk of heart attacks and strokes by as much as 24 percent.
Although it isn't clear exactly why dental cleanings have such a profound effect in this area, researchers speculate it's because the tooth scaling the dentist performs eliminate a lot of the bad bacteria that hangs around even after regular brushing; bacteria that causes inflammation in the heart, brain, and other parts of the body. Thus, seeing your dentist at least once a year for a professional cleaning is an easy way to minimize your risk of vital organ damage and keep your body functioning well.
Improve the Look of Your Smile
In-office tooth whitening treatments cost around $650. However, you can make your teeth look brighter and clearer just by undergoing a professional cleaning. Although the cleaning won't get your teeth super white like bleaching treatments would, it will still remove a few layers of stains that have built up through months of eating and drinking.
In fact, a professional cleaning may make at-home tooth whitening treatments more effective, since the products you use won't have to work through as many layers to get your teeth sparkling. This can save you quite a bit of time and money, which you can use for other things.
Be aware, though, that this only works on teeth that are mildly stained. If you've been smoking, drinking coffee, or consuming wine for years and have never had your teeth whitened before, you may not experience the same results as someone whose teeth are only a few shades away from their desired color.
To learn more about the benefits of professional dental cleanings or to schedule an appointment for one, contact your family dentist.
Share5 August 2018
I have always brushed and flossed my teeth daily, but I still had the occasional cavity when I visited the dentist for a check-up. He told me it was normal to have a cavity on occasion and that I shouldn't let it stress me out too much. Well, I am not one to just accept any problem I am having, so I started looking into how to improve my oral hygiene even more. I had always thought mouthwash was just to improve your breath, but I found some that said they helped keep cavities away. I started using one every day before bed. I haven't had a cavity in two years now, and I think the mouth rinse is the reason! I created this blog to remind other people that even if they brush and floss regularly, they can always find ways to take even better care of their teeth.
