Maintaining a bright and beautiful smile requires basic at-home oral hygiene practices, like brushing and flossing twice daily. However, taking care of your teeth should also involve visiting the dentist for professional teeth cleaning every six months. Besides brightening your smile, this procedure also comes with the following advantages.

Why You Should Schedule Regular Teeth Cleaning Appointments

1. Detect Oral Health Problems Early

Without frequent teeth cleaning sessions, you may be allowing oral problems to fester. Routine appointments are instrumental in detecting dental issues that can have gone unnoticed. The dentist will conduct a visual inspection of your teeth and soft tissues. However, they can also use digital imaging and dental X-rays to catch potential concerns regarding the jawbone and tooth roots.

2. Avoid Gum Disease and Tooth Loss

Gum or periodontal disease is one of the most common oral ailments. The condition develops from excessive plaque, the sticky film that covers teeth. This substance is full of bacteria and will harden into tartar. 

The microorganisms in plaque irritate the gums. Without professional teeth cleaning, they will remain in the mouth. As a result, inflammation can progress to periodontal disease. The condition will worsen without intervention, leading to advanced stages of the disorder, which will affect the soft tissue and can cause tooth loss.

3. Save Money and Time

Oral issues that don't get addressed usually equate to costly dental restoration procedures. For instance, tooth loss due to undiagnosed and untreated gum disease can result in needing dentures. Such treatments often take multiple visits, and the costs can add up.

Booking teeth cleaning appointments with a dentist at least twice a year allows you to catch potential problems in their early stages. It's usually simpler and cheaper to treat minor oral health problems than long-term issues. 

Keep your smile healthy and bright with the help of Steven A. Kumasaka, DDS, in Kaneohe, HI. This family dentist and his team offer exceptional dental services to patients across East Oahu in a family-friendly environment. With years of experience, you can rely on this dental practice for everything from teeth cleaning to root canals. Call (808) 247-2240 or visit Dr. Kumasaka online to request an appointment.