Top 10 Reasons to Have a Dental Cleaning

Having your teeth cleaned regularly is important to maintaining your healthy smile. Even if you brush and floss every day, a dentist can clean your teeth more thoroughly and check your teeth for any problems before they get out of hand. Oral hygiene is tied to a wide range of health issues, so clean teeth mean a healthier you!

1. Oral Cancer: Thousands of people die each year from oral cancer. At your dental cleaning, your dentist is also screening you for oral cancer, which is highly curable if diagnosed early.
2. Gum Disease: This is an infection of your gums and the tissues surrounding your teeth. It is the leading cause of adult tooth loss, but can be easily prevented by brushing, flossing, and regular visits to the dentist.
3. Tooth Loss: Gum disease and cavities can cause tooth loss and both can be prevented by keeping your teeth clean and healthy. Tooth loss can cause not only cosmetic problems, but also complications with chewing and overall health.
4. Loss of Overall Health: Studies have shown that good oral hygiene can be tied to reduced chances of heart attack and stroke.
5. Build-up of Tartar: At home, it is difficult to remove the build-up of hard plaque like tartar. It takes special tools to clean off the tough to reach areas and prevent tartar.
6. Untreated Minor Problems: If treated early, gum disease, cavities, and plaque build-up cause no major problems, but if left untreated they can result in expensive surgeries, root canals, and even tooth loss.
7. Lack of a Treatment Plan: If you know how to take care of your dental conditions you will save money in the long run. Only your dentist can help you determine the course that is right for you.
8. Lack of Oral Health: It is often difficult to determine your own degree of oral health, so it is encouraging to have a dentist tell you how you are doing in your efforts to keep your teeth clean.
9. Bad Breath: Halitosis (bad breath) is almost always caused by some kind of dental condition that you are probably unaware of. Dentists can help determine the cause of bad breath and help prevent and remove it.
10. Don't You Want a Shining Smile? Dental hygienists can remove stains on your teeth that may have been caused by tobacco, coffee, or tea and then polish your teeth to a shine. Simply put, a teeth cleaning gives you your brightest, whitest smile.