If you brush and floss your teeth throughout the day, you may not think you need to visit a dentist for anything other than emergencies. Although it's important for you to practice good oral hygiene at home, you still need to visit a dentist for dental cleanings during the year. A dentist can use your appointment to not only clean your teeth but check you for oral cancer and other problems as well.
Learn why you should visit a dentist for dental cleanings and much more below.
Why Are Dental Cleanings Critical for Patients?
Some adults skip their dental cleanings because they don't think it's necessary to do them. The individuals may brush and floss their teeth regularly during the day to avoid going to the dentist. Although good dental home care offers many benefits to adults, it doesn't provide everything people need to maintain good oral health. Professional dental cleanings can help dentists diagnose, prevent, and treat many other oral health problems, including throat and neck cancer.
Before dentists clean their patients' teeth and gums, they can complete assessments of their throat, neck, and jaw. The assessment allows dentists to spot the signs of oral cancer. Oral cancer causes lesions and sores to develop on the soft tissues inside your mouth and throat. Oral cancer can also mimic gum disease by making your gums bleed and swell. People who already suffer from gum problems may not know they have oral cancer until it's too late.
Oral cancer assessments aren't the only reasons to keep up with your dental cleanings. Dental cleanings also allow dentists to check the position of your teeth and facial bones. If you think dental cleanings can protect you from oral cancer and other health issues, schedule your first tooth cleaning appointment today.
Where Do You Find Your Dental Cleanings?
You can schedule your first dental cleaning by calling a dentist near you. A dentist will ask you several things about your oral health, including the date of your last known checkup. The information can direct or determine the level of care you receive during your appointment.
For example, if this is your first visit to a provider for any non-emergency dental care, inform a dentist right away. A provider may need to schedule you for radiographs, or X-rays, during your appointment. X-rays help locate lesions and other defects in your mouth and throat.
A provider may also need to complete a full mouth dental cleaning, or debridement, on you. Depending on the state of your teeth and gums, you may have many years of plaque on your teeth to remove. In most cases, debridement cleanings can take up to an hour to complete.
You can learn more about dental cleanings by contacting a dentist soon.
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