Spring is finally in the air! It comes as a welcome relief from all those long winter months. For many people, it’s a chance to get started on their spring cleaning. That’s a great idea because there’s nothing quite like a good spring cleaning!
At Grover Dental Care, we’re doing a long of spring cleaning too! No, we’re not talking about dusting, vacuuming and scrubbing. We’re talking about a spring cleaning for your teeth, a smart way to help maintain the health of your mouth.
Regular professional tooth cleaning is important to remove stains, soft plaque, and hard tartar or calculus deposits from your teeth. The primary purpose of these regular cleanings is to prevent (or delay) the progression of periodontal diseases (a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting your teeth) which left untreated, can lead to tooth loss.
We’ve found that too many people wait far too long between dental cleaning visits. For most folks, it’s a simple matter of procrastination. The frequency of professional cleanings will depend on the health of your teeth and gums. It’s a good idea to actually ask the dentist how often your teeth should be cleaned professionally.
On average, healthy children and adults should have their teeth cleaned professionally at least once a year. If you are at risk of periodontal diseases because of age, tobacco use, the rate of accumulation of deposits, or medical conditions such as diabetes, you may need to have your teeth cleaned more often.
Sometimes, it can be dangerous to wait too long though! It’s usually much easier and less costly to treat dental disorders in their early stages. Take gum disease for example. In the early stages of gum disease, most patients aren’t even aware that their gums are unhealthy and they delay making an appointment. It’s only when troubles such as bleeding and/ or swelling develop that they see a dentist.
Unfortunately, by then, it’s usually more difficult to treat injured tissue.
The bottom line? If you’ve put on dental visits for any reason, why not acknowledge the coming of spring as the right time to do some “Spring Cleaning.”
Add a dental visit to this year’s spring-cleaning list. A professional cleaning can help preserve your oral health and prevent the spread of periodontal disease. Moreover, it will enable us to identify other areas of your mouth that may need attention. In fact, just think of it as “good housekeeping” for your mouth. With proper dental care, you’ll feel healthier, look better and enjoy life to the fullest.
Yours for dental health,
Dr. Russell Grover