How routine dental cleanings and exams keep your smile healthy

Modern families are busy with hectic schedules, making it hard to find the time to fit in dental care. At Gentle Dental Care in Menomonie and Durand, Wisconsin, we completely understand! When your teeth and gums feel healthy and are not causing any pain, it can be easy to put off routine dental cleanings and exams. However, these short visits twice per year can actually end up saving you a lot of additional time in the dental chair and money out of your wallet by preventing more costly and time-consuming dental procedures.

Why are professional dental cleanings important?

Every time we eat food or drink beverages other than water, debris from what we have consumed can linger on our teeth, forming plaque. If plaque is not removed in a timely fashion by brushing and flossing, it hardens into tartar within just 48 hours. Many people think they are not at risk for tartar formation because they brush twice daily, but in reality, it easily accumulates on hard-to-reach areas of the teeth in even the most diligent of patients. 

Once tartar has hardened onto the teeth, it cannot be removed by brushing and flossing at home and can only be removed with a professional dental cleaning. Plaque and tartar serve as a breeding ground for bacteria, where they slowly erode your teeth and inflame your gums, causing a variety of oral health problems. During a professional cleaning, we gently remove these disease-causing substances from your teeth and polish the surface of the teeth to reduce the surface area where bacteria and plaque can thrive. Professional cleanings leave you with a sparkling, fresh smile that looks as great as it feels! 

Dental exams to maintain healthy smiles

The other important component of your routine visit is the examination. During your regular checkup, we look for any issues that may have developed since your last visit, such as:

• Cavities
• Gum disease
• Misalignment
• Issues with restorations such as crowns or fillings

We will talk with you about your oral health and ask about any new symptoms you may have developed. Many oral health problems are easily treated with early detection before they become larger and more difficult to treat. 

To schedule your checkup and cleaning at Gentle Dental Care, call (715) 600-9004 today!