When it comes to dental hygiene, the goal is always to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. It's the reason that you brush your teeth after meals and that you floss every day. When combined with a nutritious diet that also limits the amount of sugar you have in foods and beverages, you're well on your way to a strategy that promotes optimal oral health. But that's not all you need to do. And at Quinsigamonde Dental, the cornerstone of good dental hygiene is a thorough and professional dental cleaning done twice per year by our dentist in Shrewsbury.
The biggest enemy of your teeth and gums is plaque. It's a film-like substance that along with the bacteria in your mouth leads to an erosion of your tooth enamel. It's this erosion that results in cavities. As part of your regular dental exam, our dentist in Shrewsbury will detect and fill any cavities that are found, but it's still not ideal to have cavities regardless. Over time, the cumulative effect of cavities is a weakening of your teeth and more opportunity for bacteria to access the root area of the tooth. This means a potential infection and need for root canal therapy. In the worst case, tooth decay can render a tooth unable to be saved and that means an extraction. All of those problems are far less likely when you get regular dental cleanings.
Your gums also are helped greatly be a dental cleaning every six months. Periodontal disease, beginning with the first stage of gingivitis, can cause irritation and reddening of you gums. As the disease advances, the second stage of periodontitis can lead to bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, the loss of vital gum and bone tissue, and even the loss of teeth. When your gums weaken, they become less able to hold your teeth properly. Even gingivitis can usually be reversed by our dentist in Shrewsbury with a simple dental cleaning. If left unchecked, though, more extreme treatments are typically required to address the issue. When you consider how easy it is to get your dental cleaning twice per year, it's not worth the risk of ignoring it. Call us today and schedule yours.
By Quinsigamond Dental
April 1, 2016