Work is busy. You do a good job of oral hygiene at home. You have kid activities and errands. It’s not convenient now, so you’ll get to it later. You can come up with a hundred excuses for skipping a dental cleaning appointment, but this choice comes from poor judgment.
Try as you may, you likely won’t be able to catch every little piece of food debris and white, sticky plaque even when you brush and floss diligently. Within hours of eating, the plaque hardens and adheres to your teeth, and it becomes quite difficult to remove it on your own, which means you need a professional’s help! What can happen if you miss your regular cleaning appointment? Plenty!
Cavities
Bacteria in the white, sticky plaque produce powerful acids that wear down and through your enamel, the strongest material in the human body. Regardless of where a cavity shows up in your mouth, they can be hard to see in your own mouth, especially if you don’t have training. Until it hurts, you may not realize you have one or one that will soon develop. Your cleaning appointment presents a chance for your dentist to find it and treat it, or better still, tidy up the developing issue before it causes real damage.
Gum Disease
According to multiple surveys, only about half of the American population flosses daily. However, it’s also important to note that about 50 percent of US adults over the age of 30 have advanced gum disease. Coincidence? Not at all. Gum disease occurs when a strain of bacteria in plaque irritates and infects the gum tissue, causing bleeding, swelling, and recession. The disease eventually spreads to the jawbone, deteriorating the support and stability it gives to teeth. In the end, gum disease results in tooth loss. Unfortunately, while there are treatments, there is no “cure.”
However, the best approach to take with gum disease is to prevent it entirely through strong oral hygiene and professional cleanings that are more thorough than what you achieve at home.
Painful Dental Emergency
If the tooth decay progresses to a certain point, it can touch the tooth’s nerve, triggering severe pain in your mouth. This pain can be so overwhelming and distracting that you can’t focus or even sleep. You don’t have to go through this discomfort—when you attend your cleaning visit, plaque buildup is scraped and buffed away, reducing your chances of an emergency later.
Stained Teeth
Part of the cleaning process includes using a polishing tool to clear off surface discoloration. Although enamel feels smooth, it consists of slightly porous areas, in which pigmented food or drinks can get caught. Over time, your teeth can start to look duller or more yellow. If you want to retain your smile’s luster and brilliance, having your teeth cleaned every six months can slow down the natural process of discoloration.
Your routine cleaning appointment may seem unimportant, but the truth is far from this idea. Semiannual cleanings keep your teeth and gums healthy, pristine, and strong. Without this appointment, you would run into many problems and struggle with everyday functions, confidence, and interactions with others. So show your smile some appreciation and respect by going to the dentist at least twice every year!
About the Practice
Williamsburg Dental emphasizes the importance of prevention to every patient. We highly encourage at least two cleaning and checkup appointments per year, but we may recommend more for those who struggle with periodontal (gum) disease. However, if you find your smile has contracted cavities, gum disease, or any other problem, our dentists offer comprehensive, advanced services to help your smile get back on track. Do you need to schedule your next dental appointment? Contact one of our six locations in Lincoln!