The Importance of Regularly Scheduled Teeth Cleaning in Annapolis
Among the very large number of things your mom was right about, the importance of keeping your teeth clean ranks right up there. Leaving food residue on and in between your teeth is a recipe for dental disaster. “Did you brush?” and “Did you floss?” are two of the most important health-related questions any parent can ask. That’s why professional teeth cleanings are crucial.
Even if you’re the most conscientious brusher/flosser in the world, you can’t get everything your diet leaves behind. That’s where regular dental hygiene visits, at least twice a year, featuring a professional-level cleaning come into the dental health equation.
When a professional dental hygienist cleans your teeth, that professional uses tools that go far beyond what even top-of-the-line electric toothbrushes and water-flossers can do for you at home. Part of it is the strength of professional equipment, part of it is knowing just what to look for, and part of it is the angle from which a professional hygienist can approach your teeth (put simply, she or he can see and reach things that you just can’t while looking in your bathroom mirror).
If you’ve never asked exactly what’s going on during a dental hygiene visit, here’s a little play-by-play of what usually happens:
Dental Hygiene Reaches Beyond Your Mouth
Just as the food you put into your body through your mouth affects your overall heath, so does your overall oral hygiene. Here are some examples:
- Unchecked mouth bacteria can get into your bloodstream, increasing your risk of heart attack or stroke.
- People with diabetes have a higher likelihood of gum disease, and gum disease can make it hard for diabetics to get a handle on their glucose levels
- There is evidence linking gum disease to premature birth and low birth weight.
There’s a lot more to the story of oral health and overall health. We’ll be happy to explain the connection in detail when you visit us for a professional cleaning.
