Keep Your Smile Healthy with Routine Checkups and Cleanings
Routine dental checkups and cleanings go far in helping you keep your gums and teeth healthy, but they do much more than that.
During the examination, the clinician can spot signs of various health issues, such as acid reflux, osteoporosis, oral cancer, diabetes, and vitamin deficiencies.
Also, removing plaque and tartar during a professional cleaning greatly reduces your risk of gum disease, which is known to contribute to premature birth, heart disease, stroke, and respiratory disease, including asthma.
But it is also important to realize that keeping your gums and teeth healthy takes more than routine dental visits. Home hygiene is also important.
At Grand Lake Dental, Dr. Karl Jobst and his compassionate team know the importance of routine dental visits and home hygiene. They take the time and care needed to help you get the most out of both. In addition, they do everything possible to ensure patients enjoy a positive, comfortable experience.
For patients who have fears or anxieties about visiting the dentist, you can rest assured that the hands at Grand Lake Dental are gentle and kind. In addition, Dr. Jobst offers dental sedation to enhance comfort and reduce fear and anxiety for those in need of assistance.
Checkups and Cleanings for Prevention
Preventing oral disease takes the cooperative effort of the dentist, the patient, and the dental team. The idea is to preserve the teeth and supporting structures, such as the gums and jawbone, by preventing the onset, the progression, and the recurrence of oral disease.
The dentist and hygienist perform a comprehensive oral examination to inspect for any signs of systemic (bodily) disease or oral disease or cancer. They will look for dental decay and utilize special instruments to check for spaces (pockets) between the teeth and gums indicative of gum disease. They will also assess the condition of any restorations, such as crowns, bridges, and fillings.
At Grand Lake Dental, we utilize digital x-rays for the detection of dental decay, cysts, tumors, and bone loss. Digital technology is superior to traditional x-rays, as they offer instant images that show more precise details while reducing radiation exposure to patients.
Our team will also take the time to provide education regarding home hygiene, including how to properly brush and floss. It is important that you do your part in keeping your smile healthy.
Together, the patient and dental team work toward the promotion, restoration, and maintenance of oral health.
Checkups and Cleanings for More Than a Bright Smile
When you see the dentist for checkups and cleanings, the dental hygienist will perform a professional cleaning. This cleaning, which includes scaling, polishing, and flossing, does more than just improve the brightness of your smile.
Every day, a sticky, invisible layer of bacteria (plaque) builds up on your teeth. Proper brushing and flossing can remove plaque, but even with excellent home hygiene, some can remain on your teeth. This substance hardens into calculus—also known as tartar—above and below the gumline.
While home hygiene can remove plaque, no amount of brushing and flossing will remove tartar. Removal requires special instruments in a professional’s hands during a process called scaling. This is an important step in oral health, as the longer tartar remains on your teeth, the more it builds up, increasing your risk of dental decay and gum disease.
After the hygienist removes all the tartar and plaque from your teeth and gums, she will polish your teeth to remove surface stains.
Finally, she will floss your teeth to remove any debris.
Between Checkups and Cleanings
Keeping your smile healthy requires more than seeing your dentist twice a year.
Home hygiene is essential to keep oral disease at bay.
Things you can do between dental visits include:
- Properly brush at least twice a day
- Properly floss every day
- Use antiseptic mouthwash to kill bacteria and keep your breath fresh
- Eat a well-balanced diet, avoiding sweets and sugary drinks
- Avoid tobacco products
- Rinse your mouth or chew sugarless gum after eating
How long has it been since your last checkup and cleaning?
The usual recommendation for routine dental visits is every six months. However, some patients, such as those with active gum disease, may require more frequent visits.
If it has been longer than six months, or if you are experiencing any possible symptoms of oral disease, it is time to see a dentist.
Give Grand Lake Dental a call at (918) 787-5800 today to schedule an appointment. Our caring, knowledgeable team is ready to bring your oral health to the next level.