You may not love going to the dentist, but you shouldn’t shy away from a professional dental cleaning every six months. After all, a regular professional cleaning may prevent cavities and keep you from needing less-pleasant dental work. That’s not the only benefit, though. Consider the following reasons for getting your teeth cleaned by a hygienist at least twice a year.
A Brighter Smile – When you get your teeth professionally cleaned by a hygienist, many stains can be removed that you can’t take care of at home. You’ll be happy to smile in pictures after your professional cleaning.
Save Money – Whether you have insurance or not, a cleaning is much less expensive than other forms of dental work. Plus, preventative work is much more likely to be covered by your insurance, so once you hit your deductible, a cleaning will most likely not cost you anything at all (or perhaps just a small copay). Root canals, however, are often not covered, and can be very expensive. Get your teeth cleaned regularly to keep dental bills from accumulating.
Catch Problems Early – When you get your teeth cleaned at the dentist’s office, problems can get noticed before they become serious. For example, problems such as cavities, fractured teeth, and loose fillings may be detected before further damage is done or before a root canal becomes necessary. This saves you not only stress and headache, but money as well!
Protect Your Gums – Even brushing and flossing regularly can only do so much to keep tartar from forming below the gumline. Your dental hygienist will likely use an ultrasonic scaler to remove tartar painlessly, even below the gumline.
Protect Your Heart – Did you know that researchers have linked gum disease with cardiovascular disease? By taking care of your oral health, you are also helping to protect your heart.
Cancer Detection – Orals forms of cancer kill a person every hour in the US. However, most oral forms of cancer are very treatable if caught early. Sometimes, oral cancers can be detected during a cleaning. Getting a cleaning may save your life.
Whether your goal is to keep your smile bright, preserve your teeth for later in life, or save your hard-earned money for something other than emergency dental work, getting your teeth professionally cleaned on a regular basis is where you begin. Why not call your dentist today to make an appointment for your next cleaning?
