A dental cleaning from your Red Bank dentist may seem like just one more task that you need to add to your list, but taking care of your teeth is critical. Without regular professional teeth cleanings, you could be in for some serious oral health problems.
Besides the American Dental Association’s recommendation that people get teeth cleanings and check-ups every six months, there are plenty of other reasons to keep up with your dental appointments:
1. Your teeth just don’t look very good.
Stained, yellow, or unsightly teeth are not necessarily signs of unhealthy teeth. A dental cleaning will let you know for sure. Surface stains are easily removed by the dental hygienist’s tools, scraping away the cumulative daily abuse your teeth suffer.
If your teeth still aren’t white enough after a dental cleaning, and you’re troubled by chips, cracks, or short teeth, a dental cleaning is your opportunity to discuss cosmetic dentistry with your Red Bank Dentist. Procedures like teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, and tooth-colored fillings can transform your smile.
2. You think you might have a dental problem.
If you have tooth pain, you shouldn’t wait for your dental cleaning to have the problem addressed. Tooth pain could indicate that you have decay that requires a tooth-colored filling. Pain can also indicate deeper problems, like an infection, an abscessed tooth, or a broken tooth. You don’t want annoying pain to turn into unbearable, constant pain that requires root canal therapy or even more significant dental work. Remember – tooth pain doesn’t go away on its own, it only gets worse.
If your gums are bleeding, swollen, or your teeth are loose, these are signs of gum disease. Ideally, you see your dentist twice a year. At these visits, your gums are evaluated for early signs of gingivitis. Nipping this problem in the bud early eliminates the need for serious gum disease treatment later. Advanced periodontal disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss among adults.
3. Your Red Bank dentist will see problems you can’t.
Your teeth may look and feel just fine. This is great! But solid oral health does not indicate that you can skip regular cleanings and check-ups. One of the benefits of seeing your dentist regularly is that he or she will notice changes in your oral health that you won’t be able to notice.
Your Red Bank dentist takes care of more than just your teeth. Your dental exam includes a careful review of your teeth, enamel, and any x-rays that are taken. The exam also includes a thorough look at your gums, palette, tongue, throat, jaw joints, and lymph nodes. Dentists are trained to recognize when something isn’t right, including signs of oral cancer.
4. You grind your teeth.
Whether you find yourself with clenched teeth throughout the day or wake up with evil headaches after a night of grinding your teeth, during your dental cleaning you have an opportunity to discuss solutions for this problem. TMJ treatment can include a specially molded bite guard, or even a course of Invisalign braces to straighten your bite, eliminating the problem at its source.
Grinding your teeth can lead to worn enamel, which makes teeth more susceptible to decay. Teeth grinding can also contribute to gum recession, which also opens up your teeth to bacteria and food particles.
If it’s been too long since you’ve seen a dentist, schedule your teeth cleaning with Dr. Carole Sherrod Jewell in Red Bank today. Trust your dentist and hygienist to get your teeth as clean as they can possibly be and help you maintain good oral health.
