Why Is It Important to Have an Annual Dental Check-up and Cleaning?

Oral health is one of the main factors that contributes to the well-being of people in general. Think about it. Besides being the main tool you use to chew your food, your teeth are pretty much the first thing presented when you meet someone.

A smile can say a lot about a person. It can tell if that person’s disciplined, if he or she is neat, it can tell if that person follows a balanced diet or even if that specific individual smokes or drinks lots of coffee. Therefore, there are many reasons to schedule a dental check up and cleaning with your dentist at least once a year:

• Visit your dentist to prevent diseases: By going to the dentist, he can check your gums and determine if you have any illnesses. Believe it or not, oral problems increase the risk of many of them, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes and obesity. Are you wondering how? Let's say you have cavities. This decay is caused by a bacteria that, when not treated, can eat through your teeth and even sneak into your bloodstream, affecting the most random areas of your body.
  
  
• Visit your dentist for good hygiene: Your dentist can tell if you have good oral hygiene or if you need just a little help to keep it up. Your dentist will also show you more effective brushing techniques, and will also talk to you about other things that you should do to complement your daily oral care routine, like flossing and rinsing with mouthwash.
  Remember: Professional cleanings are the required to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
  
  
• Visit your dentist to be safe and for the sake of your wallet: By scheduling an annual checkup and cleaning, you will be preventing more aggressive dental interventions, and therefore saving a relevant amount of money, as checkups and cleanings are considerably cheaper than more complex dental procedures such as gum disease treatment and oral surgeries.
  
  

What happens during a dental cleaning?

• The first step is to analyze both the teeth and the gums, rule out that there is any type of periodontal disease, and identify the location of plaque and tartar.
  
  
• Subsequently, the bacterial plaque and tartar are removed by using a tool called curette. Particular attention is paid to the tartar that may have accumulated below the gum line (this can cause some gum bleeding, but it’s completely normal). Finally, the interdental spaces will be cleaned using dental floss or a special brush.
  
  
• Once this has been completed, your dentist will proceed to polish your teeth, which is done by using a whitening paste that extends over to the teeth with the additional objective of making your teeth’s surface smoother and whiter. The special pumice will also remove the stains that were formed by ingesting foods that contained pigments, such as coffee and wine, for instance.
  
  
• The cleaning ends with the application of a topical fluoride liquid or paste to the teeth, which helps to strengthen the enamel and make it more resistant to cavities. The fluoride will also help reduce sensitvity caused by eating cold or hot foods and acidic foods (like lemons).
  
  

Start the new year off right and schedule a dental check-up or cleaning with Dr. Bouzoghlanian at Prestige Dental by calling (626) 577-2017. A healthier smile awaits!