It is always a good idea to pay attention to your oral health and give it the care it deserves. And there’s no better way to start prioritizing your teeth than by scheduling an appointment with your local Palo Alto dentist!
Dental hygiene is an essential part of your overall health hygiene. With a dental exam and cleaning in Palo Alto, you can keep your pearly whites sparkling and prevent long-term infections or diseases. During a dental exam, your dentist can spot dental problems early on when solutions are simpler and more affordable. Regular dental checkups can also prevent problems from developing in the first place. Finally, a dentist would be able to spot symptoms of other systemic diseases that can appear in the mouth.
So, no matter how busy you are and how jam-packed your schedule is, you should always try to squeeze your annual dental cleaning appointment into your schedule. The benefits extend to a lot more than just maintaining a beautiful smile.
This article takes a deeper look at the reasons why dental cleanings are essential for your oral and overall health. But first, let us take a glance at what dental checkups and cleaning in Palo Alto entail.
What is Dental Cleaning?
Getting dental cleaning done on an annual or bi-annual basis is essential for optimum oral health. When you visit your dentist for your dental cleaning, they will initiate the cleaning process by first doing a dental exam to identify irregularities, cavities, inflammation, or any other potential concerns that might be present. Next, your dentist or a dental hygienist will remove any tartar or plaque on your teeth and gums with the use of metal hand instruments or ultrasonic scalers. After the scaling process is complete, your teeth will be polished to further remove any remaining plaques or stains. A fluoride treatment is then applied to your teeth, marking the end of your dental cleaning process. However, if your teeth and gum demand extra attention, your dentist might add a few other steps too, such as an x-ray and discuss treatment options with you!
Let’s now look at how dental checkups help you maintain good oral hygiene and health.
Identify Dental & Systemic Problems at an Early Stage
Getting dental exams on a regular basis is a critical part of preventive health care. While conducting the exam, your dentist will initiate the procedure by examining your teeth and gums to check for signs of gum diseases or cavities that might be present.
Next, your dentist will check your mouth, face and neck to see if there are any other abnormalities present that might be a risk to your oral or overall health. In addition to manually checking your face, neck, and mouth for abnormalities, your dentist may also schedule you for an X-ray, radiographs, or other diagnostic procedures to carry out a thorough examination. Getting these exams done regularly can help your dentist spot early symptoms and signs of systemic diseases, including cancer, lupus, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Prevent Dental Problems from Occurring
While proper brushing and flossing form the cornerstone of good dental care, professional cleaning is essential to get rid of plaque and tartar. Plaque is a sticky coating that forms on your teeth from a buildup of bacteria. Plaques eventually hardens into tartar if not properly removed. Dentists spot and remove plaque and tartar with the use of professional equipment and techniques. Ignoring the problem itself can be risky for the long-term health of your gums and teeth as plaque contains bacteria that can lead to gum disease . Therefore visiting a dentist for plaque or tartar removal is highly advisable.
Maintain Good Periodontal Health
Periodontal disease, commonly known as gum disease, is a bacterial infection in your gums, when left untreated, can lead to destruction of the tissue surrounding your gums and can result in loss of tooth and other serious complications.
During your annual checkup and cleaning, if your dentist spots early onset of gum disease, they may perform deep cleaning to go below your gum line and clean away calcified tartar and plaque from around and below the affected teeth. If your gum disease has advanced to periodontitis, your dentist may recommend tissue and bone graft to treat the disease.
Certain groups, such as diabetics are more prone to periodontitis. Treating periodontitis may help manage your diabetes better. Conversely, periodontitis has been linked to the prevalence of multiple systemic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal and colorectal cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, respiratory tract infections, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
So, we recommend that you opt for preventive dental services, and keep periodontitis and associated systemic diseases at bay.
Final Thoughts
Looking forward to a lifetime of beautiful smiles and oral health? Through regular teeth cleaning in Palo Alto, you can have both! One of the keys to a healthy and happy mouth that is free of any ailments or health risks is to get regular professional dental cleaning done. In addition to this, it is vital that you remember to take care of your teeth and gums through daily brushing and flossing.
Located in Palo Alto, California, Blue Turtle Dental is led by our highly qualified Palo Alto dentists Dr Alex Yen, Dr Munnazah Hussain, and Dr Jessica Sheu. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and find out how preventative dental care can help preserve your dental and overall health. You can direct any concerns you may have, and we will be happy to help you find a dental solution that suits your health & budgetary needs!
Article resources:
Information in this article has been gathered from multiple public health sources, including:
https://www.mouthhealthy.org/
https://www.ada.org/
https://www.cdc.gov/
https://www.aafp.org/
https://www.nih.gov/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/