Regular brushing and flossing at home are important for maintaining optimal health. However, dental cleanings are essential, not only for aesthetic purposes, but for protecting your teeth, gums, and overall health.
One of the most important and helpful oral healthcare treatments available are professional dental cleanings, which should be done at least once every six months. In fact, before any other procedure is recommended, a cleaning will most likely be done first by your dentist.
During a dental cleaning, your dentist will:
- Do a visual check of your teeth and gums.
- Clean and polish your teeth with special tools.
- Remove dental film, traces of food, and plaque.
- Do a deep cleaning, if necessary, to remove any tartar or calculus.
Professional Dental Cleanings in Calgary
At Marlborough Dental Centre, our qualified dentists and dental hygienists offer affordable and comprehensive dental cleanings to help keep your teeth, gums, and mouth clean, and to protect your dental and overall health.
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The Importance of Regular Dental Cleanings
As regularly and carefully as you may brush your teeth, you can’t always do as thorough a job as a professional dentist. Even flossing can’t always remove hardened tartar buildup below the gum line, or you may not be able to reach the cavities in back teeth that could be the start of tooth decay.
Some of the reasons why professional dental cleanings are so important to include:
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Dental Cleanings Prevent Tooth Loss
Gum disease begins as a buildup of plaque on the teeth and when it’s left untreated or unnoticed, it is one of the main causes of tooth loss. Why? As the plaque builds around the tooth, it can start to make its way down to the surrounding gum tissue, destroying supporting bone and causing your teeth to loosen and/or fall out.
During a dental cleaning, your dentist can spot and treat any buildup of plaque, keeping your mouth healthy and preventing tooth loss.
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Dental Cleanings Remove Stains
It is quite common for patients to find that their teeth are not as white or bright as they would like, and you may be feeling self-conscious about a lackluster smile. There are a number of factors that can cause staining, including:
- Poor dental hygiene
- Certain health conditions (eg. diabetes)
- Age
- Certain foods and drinks, including tea, coffee, red wine, and tobacco
If you have any visible discoloration, regular dental cleaning will not only help you maintain great oral hygiene but also keep your smile fresh and white.
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Dental Cleanings Give You Fresh Breath
Halitosis (bad breath) can cause significant worry, anxiety, and embarrassment, and most of the time, it is a result of plaque buildup, which is one of the biggest causes of bad breath because it harbors smelly bacteria. Other causes can include:
- Dry mouth
- Gum disease
- Lifestyle habits such as smoking
- Certain illnesses, such as cancer, liver failure, or other metabolic illnesses
- GERD
Since bad breath is almost always caused by a problem in your mouth, visiting a dentist can help treat the condition. If your halitosis is a result of gum disease, then a professional dental cleaning will help remove any bacteria and plaque buildup for fresher breath.
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Dental Cleanings Can Boost Your Overall Health
Many areas of your body have good and bad bacteria, which is also true of your mouth. While most of these bacteria are harmless, there are some that do raise concern.
Regular cleanings can help flush out these bacteria and prevent or lower your risk from developing systemic conditions, such as:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Dementia
- Respiratory infections
- Diabetic complications
Birth Complications and Plaque
If you are expecting a child, you should always visit your dentist for regular cleanings to ensure that your plaque and other bacteria levels are under control. This is because it has been shown that bad bacteria from gum disease can raise your chances of having a low birth weight baby, or even result in a still-birth.
Health Care Tips For New Mothers
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To find out more about our comprehensive oral services, including dental cleanings, whitenings, and more, contact our Calgary dental clinic at 403-248-2066 or fill in our online contact form.
