Visiting the dentist every four to six months for a routine dental cleaning may seem like a waste of time and money, but it isn’t. Regular routine dental cleanings are extremely important as they do everything from possibly preventing other serious health problems to improving your oral health and keeping your teeth bright and white.

Are you curious to know exactly why routine dental cleanings are so important? We have provided several examples of how routine dental cleanings can help improve your life and health.

Enjoy Brighter and Whiter Teeth with Routine Dental Cleanings

Even if you brush and floss every day your teeth will still start to appear stained or discolored. The staining and discoloration occur because your toothbrush at home is not equipped to remove the stains that naturally occur. Luckily, a professional dental cleaning can remove them.

During a routine dental cleaning, the dentist or dental hygienist uses specialized dental tools that can help lift most stains that appear on your teeth. After removing the stains, a polish is used to brighten your teeth. The combination of the stain removal and polishing is why when you walk out of the dentist’s office after a routine cleaning your teeth appear brighter and whiter than they did when you first arrived.

Preserves Your Natural Teeth

Professional dental cleanings help preserve your natural teeth by preventing gum disease and removing tooth decay. If tooth decay and gum disease are left untreated, they will eventually weaken your natural teeth. When natural teeth are weakened, they are at risk of falling out, chipping, or fracturing.

Potential Dental Problems can Be Spotted and Treated in Their Early Stages

Many dental problems, such as cavities or broken fillings, are cheaper to fix when they are caught in their early stages. During a routine dental cleaning, your dental hygienist or dentist will do a complete examination and look for any possible dental problems that may be present.

If dental problems are spotted during your routine cleaning, your dentist can make arrangements to have them fixed at a future appointment. This ability to spot dental problems not only saves you time and money, but it prevents you from experiencing extremely painful dental problems.

Help Correct Any Bad Oral Hygiene Habits

Sometimes you have been brushing and flossing for so long that you start to develop bad habits. These bad habits can cause you to not properly clean all the areas of your mouth. Luckily, a dental hygienist or dentist can spot any missed areas in your mouth due to bad oral hygiene habits. Once bad habits are spotted, your hygienist or dentist can provide you with recommendations for how to correct those bad habits. Correcting those bad habits will help you to improve your oral health.

Oral Cancer Screenings are Conducted

Oral cancer can be detected in its early stages through a routine dental cleaning or examination. Before cleaning your teeth, your dentist or dental hygienist will conduct a brief oral cancer examination. If there are any possible signs of oral cancer, your dentist can provide you with a recommendation to an oncologist.

Prevention of Other Serious Health Problems and Diseases

Poor oral hygiene has been linked to several major health problems. Health problems such as diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, and even cancers have been linked to gum disease and the presence of extensive tooth decay.

Regular routine dental cleanings reduce your risk of experiencing these health problems by actively working to prevent gum disease and removing tooth decay. If you have a routine cleaning every four to six months, it will dramatically reduce your risk of gum disease which may reduce your risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke in the future.

Want to schedule a routine professional dental cleaning? Coral Family Dentistry can help you do just that. Call our office to schedule an appointment for a complete routine professional cleaning and dental exam. We look forward to helping you improve your oral health!