/assets/images/provider/photos/2834612.jpeg)
Are regular dental visits a priority on your busy schedule? They should be. Regular dental exams and dental cleanings help prevent more costly procedures down the road. During the visit, your dentist can also spot warning signs of diseases that could affect your overall health.
Below, our expert dental team at Advanced Family Dentistry in Rancho Cucamonga, California, looks at seven benefits of routine dental cleanings.
1. Identify and treat dental issues early
At regular checkups, your dentist can identify early signs of dental problems. Treating a cavity or cracked tooth in the early stages can prevent more costly procedures down the road, such as a crown or root canal. A filling is much less expensive and involved.
2. Keep your teeth sparkling white
Your oral hygiene may be stellar, but regular brushing and flossing can’t prevent some plaque, a film of bacteria and saliva, from becoming tartar, a hardened form of plaque. Only a professional cleaning with our specialized tools can remove tartar buildup from your teeth.
Removing plaque and tartar can also help address stains on your teeth. Regular dental cleanings help keep your smile bright.
3. Help prevent gum disease
Among US adults over 30, more than 40% have gum disease. Over 70% of seniors 65 and older have it. We can detect early gum disease, called gingivitis, during your cleaning. Regular dental cleanings and good oral hygiene with fluoride toothpaste can help prevent gingivitis.
Gingivitis that goes unchecked becomes periodontitis, when your gums separate from your teeth. If this condition advances, you may need a gum graft to avoid tooth loss.
4. Check for oral cancer
Your Advanced Family Dentistry dentist checks your mouth for signs of oral cancer. It’s painless and only takes a minute. Oral cancer not detected in its beginning stages could be life-threatening. Early treatment improves outcomes.
5. Help prevent cavities with fluoride treatment
Receiving a fluoride treatment at your dental visit helps prevent cavities. Professional treatment contains more fluoride than your toothpaste.
6. Get oral health recommendations
Your dentist is the best source of knowledge for your oral hygiene questions. We show you proper brushing and flossing techniques and provide guidance on oral health products. We equip you to maintain a beautiful smile.
7. Explain the connection between oral health and general health
Researchers have connected gum disease to heart disease and other serious health issues. Bacteria from gum disease can move into your bloodstream and inflame your blood vessels and heart valves, leading to a heart attack or other vascular events.
To ensure your oral health, call Advanced Family Dentistry or request an appointment online today and schedule your next dental cleaning and exam.