Good oral health gives rise to good overall health and regular visits for teeth cleanings are important. Regular cleanings keep your smile healthy and help to control the bacteria living in your mouth. And the really good news is that if you carry dental insurance, regular cleanings are usually fully covered meaning little to no out of pocket expense. Consider these signs that a cleaning should be in your near future.
It’s been a while since your last teeth cleaning
Dental professionals suggest that you have regular teeth cleaning at six-month intervals. Why every six months? This time frame gives your dentist a chance to examine your teeth and gums to spot any problems that might exist well before they can cause bigger problems including costly fixes and potential pain.
If you spot plaque or tartar on your teeth
If you’ve spotted plaque buildup on your teeth, that’s a definite sign that you should hit the dentist office for a cleaning. Over time, plaque can develop into tartar which is much harder to remove. Tartar eventually gives way to decay and opens the door to a host of potential problems and treatment costs.
If you’ve noticed any decay on your teeth
Any dark spots that develop on your teeth demand attention and quick action. Make an appointment for a teeth cleaning as soon as you can. Expect that you might need a filling or some other type of service to deal with the decay. But the sooner you take care of it, the less of an opportunity that it will have to do more damage.
Bad breath means teeth cleanings!
If you’ve noticed recently that your breath isn’t as fresh as you might like it to be, you should schedule a check up with your dentist. Bad breath, also called halitosis, can happen for a number of reasons from poor dental hygiene to infections or other medical conditions that cause dry mouth. Your dentist can examine your teeth and gums and possibly find the source of your halitosis which will get you one step closer to fresher breath.