How many times a year do you get your teeth cleaned? If it’s only once a year, it may not be enough. Most dentists, including our dentist in Jacksonville, FL, now recommend having your teeth cleaned twice a year or every six months in order to prevent gum disease and treat any oral health issues as soon as possible.

Why Professional Teeth Cleanings Are Important

While regular brushing and flossing is a great way to keep your teeth and gums clean, you still need professional teeth cleanings from an experienced dentist in Jacksonville. Traditional toothbrushes and floss only reach about 3mm below the gumline. Dentists have the tools and experience to clean even the deepest pockets between your teeth and gums in order to ensure that there is no tartar, plaque, bacteria or infections impeding the health of your teeth.

In addition, teeth cleanings are important because no matter how well or often you brush and floss, you may still fail to remove all the plaque from your teeth. When plaque is left on the teeth, it hardens into tartar, which must be scraped from the teeth. It cannot be removed with a standard toothbrush. If the tartar is left on the teeth and below the gumline, it can cause gingivitis and periodontal disease.

Gingivitis is basically the beginning stages of periodontal disease. It starts with red and inflamed gums. You may also start to notice bleeding after you brush your teeth. If the gingivitis isn’t treated, your gums will start to recede, and you may experience infections below the gumline, which are the symptoms of periodontal disease. Advanced periodontal disease can cause loose teeth, tooth decay and jaw bone loss.

Risk Factors for Gum Disease

Getting your teeth cleaned twice a year can help reduce your risk for developing gingivitis and periodontal disease, especially if you have certain risk factors for gum disease, including;

• Being overweight
• Eating and drinking lots of sugar
• Grinding your teeth
• Having a family history of gum disease
• Having chronic levels of high stress
• having an inflammatory condition
• Having diabetes or high blood pressure
• Using tobacco products
• Being an older adult

Benefits of Getting Your Teeth Cleaned Twice a Year

When you have the above risk factors, it is imperative that you see a professional dentist twice a year to have your oral health examined and your teeth cleaned. You also want to have your teeth cleaned regularly if you do not practice good oral hygiene at home or if you eat and drink a lot of foods with high sugar contents, including fruit juice. If you rush through your morning or evening brushing routine and/or do not floss at least once a day, bacteria and plaque can be left in your mouth, where it will cause damage to the enamel of your teeth and lead to gum disease.

When you take charge of your oral health by visiting our Jacksonville dentist twice a year, you are helping to lower your risk for developing gingivitis, periodontal disease and oral infections, including abscesses. You are also reducing your risk when it comes to needing advanced dental procedures, like root canals and tooth extractions.

Twice a Year Teeth Cleanings at Smiles by Shields in Jacksonville

Our dentist, Dr. Tiffany K. Shields, at Smiles by Shields can perform all of your bi-annual teeth cleanings. These cleanings involve taking x-rays of your mouth, evaluating the health of your teeth and gums and scraping all the plaque and tartar from your teeth and below your gumline. If any problems are found, our dentist will recommend the appropriate treatments. If it’s been a while since your last dental visit, we may recommend a deep tooth cleaning, which is more involved than a regular teeth cleaning and can help you get back on track when it gums to protecting the health of your mouth.

To learn more about our dental services, call us at 901-731-0777.