The Importance of Regular Dental Cleanings and Exams

A lot like your home or car, your body needs routine maintenance. And that maintenance plan should include regular visits to your dentist. In fact, experts recommend having a professional dental cleaning and exam every six months. 

At Family Dental Care in West Palm Beach, Florida, our seasoned dental team wants to make your biannual dental visits as convenient and effective as possible. Read on as Sujay Trivedi, DMD, and Michael C. Westcott, DDS, discuss four major benefits you stand to gain from your twice-yearly cleanings and exams. 

Regular dental visits keep tartar off your teeth

You probably already know that plaque can develop on your teeth. In fact, a little bit of this bacteria-trapping film forms on your teeth every day. While you can clean most of it away at home by brushing and flossing your teeth with care, most people don’t brush thoroughly enough to clear all of it away.

Over time, that leftover plaque hardens into something called tartar. 

At that point, you can’t get rid of it on your own. In fact, if you try to scratch it off, you could damage your teeth. Only dental professionals have the specialized tools required to get tartar off your teeth.

Periodically visiting our team for a dental cleaning means we can get rid of any tartar that’s developed. When it’s allowed to remain on your teeth, tartar can lead to:

• Periodontal disease (gum disease)
• Rough patches on your teeth that trap more bacteria
• Permanent tooth discoloration 

Even if you brush and floss regularly, tartar can develop in hard-to-clean areas, like behind your molars and between teeth. Fortunately, we can remove it during your routine cleaning. 

Consistent dental care supports healthy gums

When you think about a dental cleaning, your mind probably goes to your teeth. But your gums need regular care, too. According to the American Dental Association, half of adults in the United States over the age of 30 have gum disease.

In its early phases, gum disease is very treatable. But if it goes unaddressed, it evolves from gingivitis to periodontitis. At that point, it becomes a major cause of preventable tooth loss. 

Fortunately, a comprehensive gum checkup is part of your routine dental exam. If you have any emerging issues, Dr. Westcott or Dr. Trivedi can develop a targeted treatment plan to address them.

Regular dental exams catch cavities early

Our team also checks your teeth for signs of decay. With regular exams and periodic dental X-rays, we can catch cavities early. This means we’re able to remove dead tissue and restore your tooth with a filling before the decay has spread to the root. 

When dental decay is allowed to fester, it can eat away at multiple parts of the affected tooth, potentially to the point where you need a root canal or a tooth extraction. 

Professional dental cleanings brighten your smile

During your cleaning, we polish your teeth. This removes surface-level staining so you leave with a more lustrous smile. In fact, if whiter teeth are a priority for you, we can also integrate teeth whitening into your personal dental care plan. 

If it’s been more than six months since your last teeth cleaning, our team at Family Dental Care in West Palm Beach, Florida, is ready to help. Call our office at 561-556-1698 today, or book your visit online any time.