The Foundation of a Healthy Smile
Brushing your teeth twice and flossing at least once every day is the only way to effectively stop harmful plaque from calcifying into tartar. The sticky substance that accumulates on your teeth and gums every day is the product of oral bacteria, and if you don’t remove it often enough, then it can quickly harden into tartar. Even when you do practice consistently good hygiene, though, you might still miss spots of plaque at times. When they become tartar, the only way to remove them is with professional dental cleaning. For optimal results, most patients should attend a cleaning at least twice a year, during which we’ll also carefully check for signs that any dental issues have already developed and require attention.
Consistent Exams and Cleanings Matter
At every dental checkup and cleaning appointment, prevention is the main focus. For example, thoroughly cleaning away harmful plaque and tartar stops the harmful oral bacteria within the films from attacking your tooth structure and/or leading to gum disease. As the main components behind tooth decay and gum disease formation, controlling plaque and tartar is paramount to preventing such issues. To be effective, however, your checkup and cleaning appointments must be consistent. Oral bacteria only need one chance to infect your tooth or work their way underneath your gums and lead to potentially complex dental health issues. Your exam will also include a comprehensive inspection, including digital imaging, when necessary. The inspection and screening will reveal if tooth decay, gum disease, oral cancer, or other issues are presently threatening your oral health.
Schedule a Checkup & Cleaning Soon
Sticking to your regularly scheduled checkup and cleaning appointments is paramount to keeping your smile safe, healthy, and free of progressive dental issues. For more information, or to schedule a checkup and cleaning with us, call Gateway Dental Group in downtown Des Moines, IA, today at (515) 244-9565. We also proudly serve patients from West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, Johnston, and all surrounding communities.