Harmful buildup can coat your teeth and then increase the risk of cavities and even gum disease. But we can help by removing these harmful layers with a routine dental cleaning. In today’s blog, Dr. Robert M. Browne talks about how we protect smiles with a regular dental cleaning every six months.
The Impact of Plaque and Tartar Buildup
How does plaque and tartar form? When we consume foods and drinks with a lot of sugar on them, or enjoy snacks high in starch, this can leave behind particles on and between the teeth. As bacteria break down these particles and consume them this increases the level of oral acidity and coats the teeth in a sticky player of plaque, which hardens into tartar. While brushing and flossing can help limit buildup, only a professional visit can remove these layers completely. This is important, because otherwise the plaque and tartar could weaken and erode outer enamel to make cavities possible, and could inflame the gums to create gingivitis and even gum disease, as well as bad breath and teeth stains.
The Dental Cleaning
To remove the plaque and tartar from the teeth, we will offer a professional dental cleaning. Now is a great time to schedule one for the whole family, as your kids don’t have to miss school and their next visit can happen during the winter break. With the procedure, we will use an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual tool to gently but thoroughly break up and remove plaque and tartar from the teeth. The process only takes a few minutes, and we follow it by polishing your teeth to help limit the ability for buildup to occur before you see us again. This also helps brighten your smile. This is a procedure that helps all ages.
Managing Periodontal Disease
Our team could also use a version of a cleaning to help manage periodontal disease and protect your smile from further discomfort and tooth loss. Known as a scaling and root planing, this uses the same tools but also removes buildup from the roots and from under the gums. This could take one visit or as many as four, and since it is more involved, we will numb the smile ahead of time to keep you cozy! We then manage the disease with routine cleanings every three to four months. If you have any questions about how we protect smiles with a preventive visit, or if you want to schedule a visit for yourself and your family, then contact our team today.
Dr. Browne, DDS, Provides Healthier Smiles
We want to help safeguard your smile with care every six months. To find out more about preventing issues like periodontal disease, or to schedule an appointment, please call Dr. Robert M. Browne, D.D.S. in Prairie Village, KS at (913) 901-8585.
