Why Professional Dental Cleanings Are Crucial for Your Health

If any dental appointment deserves the word easy, it is the cleaning. There are no surprises in it, and for many patients it is the visit that rebuilds trust in dentistry. So before we make the case for why cleanings matter, know this: the appointment itself is a gentle one, and if visits of any kind are hard for you, our whole practice is organized around Fear-Less Dentistry.

Now, the case. You already know to brush at least twice a day and floss at least once. That habit is the foundation of a healthy mouth, and nothing we do replaces it. But home care alone cannot keep your mouth fully healthy, and the reason comes down to a chain of three links: tartar, your gums, and the rest of your body.

The one thing brushing cannot remove

Good brushing and flossing clear away plaque, the sticky film that forms on teeth and along the gum line. Even with a careful routine, some plaque always escapes and hardens into tartar. Once that happens, no toothbrush or floss can remove it. Only a professional cleaning can.

That is the first reason we ask patients to come in at least every six months. Our hygienists clear away the tartar your routine cannot reach, and each cleaning visit also gives Dr. Balaban a chance to spot small problems while they are still small, when treatment is simplest.

Your gums are the quiet half of the visit

Cleanings protect your gums as much as your teeth. Healthy gums are pink and firm and sit snugly against each tooth. Unhealthy gums turn red, look puffy or swollen, and may begin pulling away from the teeth. Receding gums are a warning sign of gum disease, and untreated gum disease can end in tooth loss.

Regular cleanings help keep your gums out of that territory. And if gum disease has already gained a foothold, it is treatable. Our periodontal therapy page explains how we bring gums back to health.

The mouth-body connection

Here is the part most people have not heard. The bacteria behind gum disease do not necessarily stay in your mouth. They can travel through the bloodstream to the heart, where they can cause inflammation and may raise the risk of heart disease. Researchers have also found links between poor oral health and:

• Diabetes
• Certain cancers
• Respiratory diseases
• Stroke
• Dementia
• High-risk pregnancy

A twice-yearly cleaning is a modest habit. Few habits that small do as much for your overall health.

Schedule your next cleaning in Carmel

If it has been more than six months since your last cleaning, the best time to be seen is soon. Smile Arts Dental welcomes new and existing patients, and if nerves are what kept you away, tell us. Comfort is where we start, not an afterthought. Request an appointment with Dr. Alex Balaban, DDS, or see our $79 new-patient exam and X-ray offer if this would be your first visit with us.