Dental infections can destroy the
appearance and the health of your smile. Patients who neglect diligent home and
professional dental care are at risk of losing teeth and jawbone density. These
complications are painful and require extensive cosmetic procedures to restore
the appearance of a patient’s smile.
As is true with many things, the best
offensive is a good defense—if you diligently prevent dental decay in the first
place, you wont have to suffer through the pain and embarrassment of dental
disease. In our Longmont general dental office we strive to educate patients on
the most effective ways to prevent cavities and gum disease. You may not know
that brushing and flossing alone cannot maintain your smile—rather at-home care
must be paired with professional dental cleanings.
Many of our patients follow rigorous
oral hygiene routines. They brush, floss, use mouthwash, and try to avoid
damaging food and drinks. Because they are mindful of dental health, many
patients may not consider that they need to supplement at-home care with
professional cleanings for optimal results.
Flossing and brushing are useful because
they remove plaque build-up that accumulates throughout the day. Plaque is a
sticky bacterial film that coats enamel and oral tissue as we eat, drink, and
speak. Plaque is effectively removed by brushing and flossing. However, it is
impossible to completely eliminate plaque—some inevitably becomes stuck between
teeth or in crevices in dental enamel.
Remaining plaque hardens into a
substance called tartar (or calculus). Tartar is calcified plaque—it sticks to
dental enamel and offers a prime breeding ground for bacteria. Importantly,
tartar cannot be removed by brushing and flossing. A professional dental
cleaning, however, can eliminate tartar, because professional dental tools are
more aggressive and effective against calcified substances.
Without professional cleanings, calculus
would continue to build up on teeth, causing dental decay, gum disease, and
eventually tooth loss. The best way to ensure your dental health is to maintain
a proactive at-home cleaning schedule (to reduce daily plaque build up) and see
your dentist for semi-annual professional cleanings (to remove tartar and give
you a “clean slate” for brushing and flossing). When you partner with a dental
professional, you give yourself the best chance at enjoying a smile that is both
healthy and beautiful for years to come. If you’d like to speak to a Longmont general dentist, or get more information about preventative dental treatment, give us a
call at (303) 775-4229.