In honor of National Dental Hygiene Month, October’s Ask the Doc blog is…Why should I see the dental hygienist?
A healthy, clean mouth and a great smile does wonders for your confidence when you’re interacting with friends, family, coworkers, and business associates. It is just as important to bring children to their biannual appointments to establish good habits early.
Even if you have an excellent home care routine, plaque hardens over time and can no longer be brushed or flossed off the surfaces of your teeth. Your hygienist can access all areas of your mouth and remove these deposits of calculus (tartar) to prevent them from causing irritation to your gums which leads to gum disease. Signs of gum disease include bleeding gums, bad breath, and in more advanced stages loose teeth.
Other good reasons to visit your hygienist regularly include the prevention of bad breath and maintaining a brighter smile. Even with thorough brushing and flossing, bacteria beneath the gum line can result in halitosis. Dental cleanings help to sanitize tissues and restore bacterial balance in your mouth resulting in fresher breath. Superficial stains from coffee, tea, red wine, blueberries, chocolate, etc. are also removed during the polishing a hygienist performs during a professional cleaning.
Besides cleaning your teeth and gums, your hygienist also checks for weak areas in teeth, faulty fillings, infections and oral cancer. Early diagnosis means there is a higher chance of successful treatment.
You should see your dental hygienist at least twice a year. If you haven’t seen one for a while, your mouth will thank you for booking an appointment with us at https://amarillodentalassociates.com/appointment-request/.
