What Makes A Checkup And Cleaning Important?

You may not realize it, but your routine checkup and cleaning visits are very important. In fact, they’re vital for fighting everything from cavities and gum disease, to bad breath and even teeth stains. In today’s blog, your Ankeny, IA, dentist will explain what makes these visits so important, and why you should see us every six months!

The Dangers of Infrequent Visits

The goal of a checkup is to keep an eye on the smile, watching for developing problems and addressing them before they threaten the health and stability of your smile. The cleaning portion removes plaque buildup. However, without regular visits for checkups and cleanings, then plaque buildup could harden into tartar, and minor oral health issues like demineralized enamel and irritated gum tissues could lead to tooth decay, dental infection, gingivitis, and even gum disease! Not to mention, the increased risk of bad breath and teeth stains. Seeing us at least once every six months is essential for a strong and healthy smile.

Examining Your Smile

The exam will involve taking a close look at your smile with digital technology. We use the images gathered to look closely at the teeth, roots, gums, and oral structures. When we uncover trouble, we can create a plan to address these concerns and improve the health, beauty, and infection of your smile. For example, we can treat cavities with a filling in one visit, or use a scaling and root planing to reverse gingivitis.

Removing Buildup

During the same visit, we will also thoroughly clean your smile, which means we remove all plaque and tartar from the teeth with an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual tool. By removing buildup, we improve breath freshness, fight teeth stains, and lower the risk of issues like cavities and gum disease. Brushing and flossing in between these visits also helps control how much plaque accumulates, so you should brush twice a day and floss every night. If you have any questions about how we examine and clean the teeth, or if you have sore gums or aching teeth that need attention, then contact our team today. We want to help you enjoy a beautiful smile, one that is healthy and functions properly.

Do You Have Questions About General Dental Care?

We know that lack of regular care in-office and at-home could mean a higher risk of cavities and gum disease. We want to help you enjoy a stronger, healthier smile for many years to come. To learn more about keeping your teeth and gums strong and healthy, then please schedule an appointment by calling Peddicord Family Dentistry in Ankeny, IA, today at (515) 963-3339. We also proudly serve patients of all ages who live in Bondurant, Polk City, and all surrounding communities.