Close-up partial view of beautiful middle aged woman at dental check up
In 2019, 35.1% of adults aged 18 years old and older neglected to receive dental care within the year. This statistic is alarming since teeth cleanings should be conducted twice a year to maintain ideal oral hygiene.
This guide outlines the importance of regular teeth cleanings by discussing the risks associated with infrequent oral care.
The Consequences of Missed Teeth Cleanings
In order to maintain healthy teeth plaque, stains and tartar must be removed through dental cleanings. Regular brushing and flossing are no match for hardened plaque build-up and cannot be removed without specialized tools.
Below are a view consequences of missing regular teeth cleanings.
Bad Breath
The plaque, stains, and tartar that builds on your teeth consist of harmful bacteria. If left untreated, the bacteria can create an odor that no toothpaste or gum will be able to mask.
For those who haven’t had any luck removing stains at home, it is recommended that you seek professional care from a dentist. These types of spots almost certainly warrant professional cleaning.
Gum Disease
Missed teeth cleanings can also impact the health of your gums due to tartar and plaque build-up around the gum line. Without treatment, bacteria builds up and creates pockets around the gums that can eventually lead to inflammation.
Inflammation ultimately can result in gum disease which causes tooth or even bone loss.
Cavities
Personal oral care is unable to remove bacteria created by plaque and tartar on and between teeth. These areas where bacteria builds are extremely difficult to manage at home.
For this reason, cavities will likely begin to develop if not treated by a professional.
Additional Complications
Treating your teeth with bi-annual teeth cleanings can also prevent long-term complications of your overall health. Some of these areas include:
- Heart attacks
- Strokes
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
Everything ingested through the mouth is streamlined to your bloodstream. It is likely that these conditions will appear if you have a build-up of bacteria due to contamination in your blood.
Also, the risk of complications during pregnancy and oral cancer can be reduced with frequent dental cleanings. Keeping yourself up-to-date on your oral hygiene will help spot any indication of these risks and help manage them.
The Benefits of Regular Oral Care
Besides avoiding the previously mentioned consequences, regular oral care can benefit you in a number of other ways. These benefits include:
Saving Money
The earlier you spot plaque and tartar buildup, or deep teeth stains, the faster you can treat them. Treating these conditions early on will help avoid costs related to major surgeries associated with tooth decay or disease.
Brighter Smile
Teeth cleanings typically involve tooth polishing and occasional fluoride treatments. These applications help enhance your smile by removing stains and brightening your smile.
Taking Care of Your Teeth
The importance of regular teeth cleanings has demonstrated that proper oral hygiene benefits us in more ways than a nice smile. For this reason, taking care of your teeth should be viewed as a top priority- after all, we only get one set!
More information regarding oral hygiene can be found on our blog. Be sure to check out some of our other articles under the dental care section of our site.
