Dental Checkups & Cleanings – Greensboro, NC

The Importance of Professional Teeth Cleanings

Many patients ask us if they have to receive a professional teeth cleaning if they do a good job brushing and flossing their teeth at home. The answer is yes. Even those patients who are very diligent in sticking to their oral health care routines may not remove every bit of plaque buildup. In fact, teeth have crevices and grooves that are too small for even a single toothbrush bristle to access. These areas need to be cleaned professionally. Plaque, the sticky byproduct of oral bacteria, clings to teeth following meals. When the plaque isn’t removed within 12 hours, it can begin to harden into tartar sometimes called calculus. Patients are not able to remove tartar at home, so professional teeth cleanings are necessary to remove any calculus. Finally, these professional cleanings also give our team members the opportunity to examine your smiles for signs of developing oral health concerns and partner with you to prevent these issues.

At-Home Oral Hygiene Tips

When it comes to caring for your smile at-home, you need to brush for two minutes at a time at least twice a day and floss daily. If you do this, you will significantly reduce your risk for oral health concerns. Here are some additional tips to help you improve the efficacy of your daily hygiene:

• When brushing teeth, place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle toward the gum line
• Use a fast back and forth motion over a single tooth rather than large circular movements
• Brush systematically, not randomly, to ensure each tooth is cleaned
• Floss both sides of each tooth all the way to the gum line
• Add brushing between meals or use an antimicrobial rinse after eating to achieve optimal results

Choosing the Right At-Home Dental Products

For the most part, choosing oral hygiene products comes down to personal preference. You can’t go wrong with products that have the American Dental Association seal of approval. In addition, please consider the following:

• Use soft or ultra-soft bristled toothbrushes (electric or manual)
• Use fluoridated toothpastes
• Find a floss that fits your needs – for example, use a waxed floss if you have crowded teeth and a more fibrous floss for gapped teeth
• Use mouthwashes that contain fluoride and offer antimicrobial benefits to limit the numbers of oral bacteria

Preventing Oral Health Concerns

Along with daily brushing, flossing and visiting our office twice a year, there are a number of other steps you can take to avoid oral health concerns. Please consider them below:

• Use mouth guards as directed to protect teeth from unconscious teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism)
• Wear protective sportsguards during any athletic event or practice
• Don’t use teeth as tools to open packages or crack nuts
• Avoid chewing on fingernails, pen caps, ice, and other hard objects