Great oral health starts at home with regular toothbrushing, flossing, and maintaining a healthy diet. The other key component to maintaining healthy teeth and gums is seeing the dentist at least twice yearly for regular professional dental cleanings and check-ups. At Paxton Dental Care in Paxton, MA, preventive care is at the heart of our practice, and we love seeing our patients for routine oral hygiene visits.
★★★★★
Quite possibly the best Dentist around. A few years back I had a cracked tooth, and was in excruciating pain. The oral surgeon recommended by my previous dentist could not see me for two months, and I needed to be seen in two hours. I was referred to Paxton Dental Care by a friend and the Dr S. saw me immediately. He fit me in between patients, got me comfortable and began the extraction process. They explained everything to me perfectly and I knew what to expect every step of the way. I followed their recommendation for an implant and now I’m back to where I wanted to be. It was the best thing that could’ve happened. They did such a great job, that while I was there at a recent cleaning and talking with the hygienist, I wasn’t even sure what tooth was actually the implant. And as I write this, I’m still actually not sure if it was my top or bottom left. That are the BEST!!!!!!
Purpose of dental cleanings
Brushing and flossing each day goes a long way toward keeping your smile healthy, but even the most diligent patients can miss hard-to-reach spots or have habits that can lead to the buildup of plaque and tartar. Once it has built up, hardened tartar can no longer be removed with brushing and flossing alone, and if left on your teeth, it can lead to various oral health issues such as cavities and decay. Oral hygiene visits are designed to remove these substances from your teeth and protect them from future damage. In addition, periodontitis and oral hygiene go hand-in-hand, and professional dental cleanings can help you avoid gum recession, loose teeth, and tooth loss associated with gum disease.
- After performing a visual inspection of your teeth and gums and taking any x-rays as indicated, we gently scale your teeth for tartar removal, as well as bacteria and plaque removal
- Using a gritty toothpaste, we perform a teeth polishing procedure to give your teeth a pearly white sheen and reduce the surface area that bacteria and sticky plaque can cling to
- We floss between your teeth and gums to remove any leftover debris and then rinse with clean water
- Finally, we perform any preventive care measures such as the application of fluoride or sealants as appropriate for you or your child
A short visit to see us twice per year for dental cleanings and oral hygiene check-ups can help you avoid extra time in the dental chair and money out of your wallet. In some cases, patients suffering from gum disease can also benefit from periodic dental deep cleanings and gum cleanings, which we will recommend as needed. To schedule your exam and cleaning with Drs. Fadi Farah or Scott Siemen, call Paxton Dental Care in Paxton, MA, today! Our office can be reached at (508) 557-2400.
Dental cleanings at Paxton Dental Care - Dr. Scott Siemen
How important is it to maintain good oral hygiene?
Hello, this is Dr. Siemen from Paxton Dental Care. Today I will be speaking about dental cleanings and oral hygiene.
Throughout the year, a person will accumulate plaque and bacteria and something we call tartar on the teeth and under the gums.
If this is not routinely removed, it can lead to gum disease, which is sometimes called the silent killer of teeth. It is the number one reason for tooth loss in America today.
How often should teeth be cleaned?
So we want to periodically remove any debris that could lead to eventual tooth loss, and it varies depending on how often a dental cleaning is necessary.
It varies from twice to three to four times, sometimes even six times a year, a person will need a dental cleaning. It is important to prevent tooth loss, tooth decay, and gum disease.
What can be done at home to maintain oral hygiene?
It’s important to brush your teeth at least two times and as many as three times a day, as well as floss once to two times per day.
Also, use a water pick, which is a very important aid in maintaining good oral hygiene. Some studies show a link between good home care and good oral hygiene to overall health, from gum disease to heart disease to diabetes.
Many systemic diseases can be linked to oral health, so it’s important to routinely have a good dental cleaning and maintain oral hygiene.
Call us today to schedule your next hygiene appointment.