One of the easiest things you can do for your overall health is practice good dental hygiene and teeth cleaning. The overall health of your teeth and gums can impact your physical health, well-being and self-confidence level. However, it is not just enough to simply brush your teeth; you need to have the knowledge and proper tools to get the job done right. At Galleria Dental Aesthetics, our family dentist in Fairfax provides a full range of superior dental care for people of all ages, but the foundation of our practice is always promoting a healthy smile through preventive general dentistry.
Eliminating Plaque
Daily tooth brushing and flossing helps to rid the teeth and gums of a sticky bacterium called plaque. Everyone has plaque that attempts to break down tooth enamel and irritate the gums. The build-up of plaque can lead to tooth decay, gum disease and tooth loss.
By consuming healthy foods, limiting unhealthy snacks between meals, brushing after meals and flossing daily, plaque acids do not have as much opportunity to build up and create havoc on your smile.
What are the Signs You May Need a Teeth Cleaning?
Despite having good oral hygiene, there are a few symptoms many people experience when they are overdue for a professional dental cleansing. If you experience any of the following symptoms, they may be signs that you need a deep tooth cleaning:
- Your gums bleed when you brush or floss them
- Your gums are inflamed or appear to recede
- Your teeth are sensitive to hot and cold foods or drinks
- You have a toothache
- You notice tartar buildup
- You experience dry mouth
- You have sores
- You have gum pockets
What Happens If You Neglect Proper Dental Hygiene?
When you neglect proper dental hygiene, you can increase your chances of developing more serious oral conditions requiring dental treatment that likely cost more than just a professional cleaning. No matter how diligent you are about your at-home oral routine, the constant usage of our mouths and the foods we eat still have an effect on our oral health. If you neglect professional dental cleaning when needed, you may develop the following:
- Chronic bad breath
- Cavities
- Receding gums or gum disease
- Tooth loss
- Diabetes
- Kidney disease
How Often Should You Get a Dental Cleaning?
For both children and adults, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that professional dental cleaning should be done once every six months to ensure that your oral health is in good condition. Visiting your dentist twice a year can also help prevent the development of more serious dental conditions such as gum disease.
If you are someone who has a history of gum disease or experiences more dental problems than usual. In that case, our highly experienced dental professionals will be happy to take a look at your dental history to determine if dental visits more than twice a year will be beneficial to your oral health.
How Can I Teach My Children Proper Dental Hygiene?
It is essential to teach your children how to take care of their teeth properly from a young age to prevent serious oral conditions from developing. Here are a few ways parents can teach kids about proper dental hygiene:
- Educate them on what happens when you don’t brush and floss daily
- Make their oral routine fun by brushing and flossing alongside them daily
- Use a children’s cavity prevention toothpaste to prevent bacteria buildup
- Choose a family dentist they are comfortable visiting
Patient Testimonial
"Had a teeth cleaning with Nancy today. I was a little reticent going to the appointment, but once there and saw all the safety measures they’ve implemented I felt at ease and confident that I was in a safe environment. As always, a superb and professional visit."
The Best Ways to Brush and Floss
Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss once a day to help remove harmful plaque from around the tooth enamel and gums. The best way to brush your teeth is to:
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush that fits the size of your mouth and allows you to reach all teeth
- Position your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle to the gum line
- Gently brush all surfaces of your teeth by starting on the gums and brushing with short strokes, up and over the teeth being cognizant of
- the hard-to-reach back teeth
- Brush your tongue; it retains bacteria and cause bad breath
- Use an ADA approved fluoride toothpaste
- Replace your toothbrush every three to four months
- Dependent on your personal oral hygiene needs, an electric toothbrush may be recommended
The proper way to floss is to:
- Gently move the floss between teeth, being careful not to irritate the gum line
- Gently wrap the floss in a “C” shape around the tooth at the gum line, and move the floss under the gums with a scraping motion until resistance, but not discomfort, is achieved. Plaque is a very sticky and highly retentive and requires mechanical removal several times every day, either with a toothbrush or dental floss.
Professional Teeth Cleaning
At-home brushing and flossing can help keep your teeth and gums relatively free of plaque. However, professional dental cleanings are vital to remove hard and soft deposits that cannot be done at home. We recommend that our patients visit our office every six months at a minimum. Each patient presents with different oral health needs and a more frequent recare interval may be necessary for a professional cleaning and so we can identify any trouble areas that may be forming.
If you live in the Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, McLean, Reston, Tysons Corner or Northern Virginia area, please contact the knowledgeable and experienced family dentists at Galleria Dental Aesthetics for regular teeth cleaning and dental hygiene checkups. Call 703-448-1020 today!
Click here to print post-operative hygiene instructions.