How Routine Dental Cleanings Help With Gum Health

If you're looking to maintain healthy gums, consider scheduling regular dental cleaning as part of your regular dental hygiene routine. This will help you avoid gum disease, which can be caused by bacteria building up around your teeth and gums and can lead to tooth loss and even heart problems if left untreated. These seven benefits of routine dental cleaning will convince you that this should be one of the first things on your to-do list each month!

Sign up for regular checkups

It may sound like a no-brainer, but there are still plenty of people out there who neglect their dental hygiene and don't go to regular appointments with their dentist. If you're already one of those people, or even if you brush and floss regularly, it can be hard to know what else you can do to ensure good gum health. Regular checkups are key! You might not think that seeing your dentist every six months will change anything, but for many patients, gum disease is discovered at these checkups—and by then, it might be too late to save your teeth. Preventative measures like regular dental cleaning will help you ward off more serious problems down the road.

Brush properly

A common misconception among people who are new to looking after their teeth is that you don't need to do anything if you're getting your teeth cleaned at your dentist's office every six months. This isn't true! Taking care of your gums is just as important as taking care of any other part of your body, so brush twice a day, floss daily properly, and visit your dentist for regular checkups. It will help keep your mouth healthy and keep those pearly whites shining bright. You can even ask your dentist about what types of toothpaste might be good for you; there are some brands on the market with special ingredients designed to prevent bacteria from forming on our teeth, which can cause bad breath and gum disease over time.

Use floss daily

Your teeth aren't great at cleaning themselves. One way to improve your gum health is by flossing daily. If you can't brush after each meal, then flossing should become part of your daily routine. This simple act will help prevent plaque buildup that causes gum disease and tooth decay. As a bonus, it may even make it easier for you to reach some foods in the back of your mouth with a toothbrush. Your dentist can recommend specific types of floss that might be most effective for you, based on how tight or wide your teeth are spaced. If you do struggle with stiffness or arthritis, though, there are different types of oral irrigators available as well.

Be sure to floss before bedtime because it's easier to get food out of your teeth right after eating. You may find that it takes some time to figure out how and where you should floss in your mouth, especially if you're not used to doing so. Take it slow and pay attention to how effectively you can clean between all of your teeth. If you have trouble reaching certain areas, ask a dentist or dental hygienist for advice on what tools might help you reach those spots more easily. For example, a water pick or oral irrigator might be useful for cleaning around braces or bridges. And don't forget about your tongue!

Use mouthwash daily

The first thing you should do to ensure healthy gums is to brush your teeth twice a day, which you've hopefully already done. You can also improve your dental hygiene by using mouthwash regularly. Mouthwash contains antibacterial agents that are specifically formulated to clean out food particles and other debris from within your mouth, preventing bad breath and gum disease. These ingredients include chlorhexidine gluconate, benzalkonium chloride, or cetylpyridinium chloride.

Simply pour a little bit of mouthwash into your mouth after brushing and swish it around for a few seconds. Then, spit it out. Use an alcohol-free version if you are prone to dry mouth or have other concerns about using alcohol as part of your oral care routine.

Never swallow mouthwash because it's not safe to ingest and could cause serious side effects when consumed. In addition to these chemicals, mouthwash also contains flavorings that can help mask bad breath and leave your mouth feeling fresh. It's important to remember that while these ingredients may be effective at cleaning debris from within your mouth, they aren't powerful enough to remove plaque from along your gum line—this is where flossing comes into play.

Your dentist can help

Learn more about ways that you can preserve your smile by reaching out directly to your dentist. They can help answer your questions and provide professional guidance that you may need. Reach out today to schedule your next appointment. 

Request an appointment here: https://smilesdental.com or call Smiles Dental Care at (650) 563-1180 for an appointment in our Mountain View office.

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