Why professional dental cleanings and checkups are important for your oral health

It can be easy to put off your routine dental cleanings and checkups, especially if everything seems fine and you are not experiencing any pain in your teeth or gums. However, many oral health problems have no obvious symptoms in their early stages. You may have the beginnings of an issue but are completely unaware of it until it has progressed to a later stage that is more difficult and costly to treat. This is where regular dental cleanings and checkups come in! At Hyde Park Dentistry inLondon, Ontario, preventive dental care is the cornerstone of our practice, and we love getting to know our patients when they come in for their recall appointments.

Why professional cleanings are important, even for patients with good oral hygiene

Professional dental cleanings are designed to give you a “clean slate” every few months so that your teeth and gums are less likely to develop decay and disease. Plaque naturally forms on your teeth after eating foods and drinking beverages, particularly anything starchy or sugary. If plaque is not removed from your teeth in a timely fashion through brushing and flossing, it hardens into tartar. This can happen to even the most diligent of patients, particularly in hard-to-reach areas such as the back of the mouth. Plaque and tartar are key players in the development of cavities, gum disease, and other oral health problems, so it is very important to keep these disease-causing substances off of your teeth. The tricky part is that once tartar has formed, regular brushing at home cannot remove it from your teeth, and only professional cleaning can eliminate it. We also polish your teeth during your dental cleaning, so there is less surface area for debris and plaque to accumulate. This process also helps eliminate surface stains and gives your teeth a shiny sparkle, so they look as great as they feel!

Routine checkups help detect issues before they progress into something bigger

The other important piece of your routine dental visit is the examination by one of our dentists. During your checkup, they examine your teeth and gums to look for signs of issues such as:

• Cavities
• Gum disease
• Misalignment in your teeth or jaw
• Restorations that are beginning to wear out
• Oral cancer

Additionally, this is a great opportunity for us to answer any questions you have about taking care of your teeth or any negative symptoms you have been experiencing. If you are experiencing any oral health problems, identifying them early during your dental checkup often leads to better outcomes and less pain and expense for you. Together, we will work with you to develop a treatment plan that addresses your oral health issues in a way that is optimal for your specific needs, treatment preferences, and budget.

If you are due for your regular dental cleaning and checkup, call Dr. Ashish Papneja or Dr. Marjan Moaveni at Hyde Park Dentistry today to schedule your appointment! We love welcoming new patients to our dental family and provide gentle, non-judgmental care. You can reach our London, ON office at 226-271-2522.