Not too many people look forward to a dental visit. In fact, many people put off regular dental cleanings and exams and only visit the dentist as a last resort, when they’re in terrible pain and must have immediate relief. Though dental visits may never be enjoyable, visiting the Dental Hygienist in Westbury, NY regularly for cleanings can prevent most of the painful, emergency visits to the dentist. Plaque and tartar are the culprits that do most of the damage to teeth and gums. Though daily dental care at home does remove some of the plaque, it doesn’t remove all of it, and home dental care can not remove tartar. Tartar removal requires a special scaling tool available at the dental office. Most dentists recommend their patients receive a professional dental cleaning twice a year. This helps to keep the mouth clean and healthy and prevents severe dental problems from progressing to a dangerous or painful level.
It’s important to not let plaque stay on the teeth. After a time, plaque actually produces an acid on the teeth. This acid attacks and eats away the enamel, causing decay on the teeth. This decay is a cavity. When plaque builds up on the base of the teeth, it causes gum disease. Gum disease is a common condition that causes tooth loss in adults. As gum disease progresses, the gums around the teeth become inflamed or irritated and actually pull away from the teeth. As the condition progresses, the disease actually breaks down the bone that holds the teeth in place. The teeth then begin to loosen and either fall out, or have to be removed from the mouth.
Regular cleaning and removal of plaque also helps to keep the teeth shiny and white. Stains tend to develop on the teeth, especially when drinking dark liquids like coffee, tea, and dark colas. By cutting down on the frequency of the drinks and by getting teeth cleaned on a regular basis by the dental hygienist in Westbury, NY, one can have a shiny and white smile to show off to the world.
Dental cleanings help keep the teeth shiny and white, but they also do much more. Routine cleanings help keep the teeth healthy and avoid decay and gum disease. Don’t delay. Contact Gerald B Grossman DDS for an appointment today.
