You may already know that the American Dental Association strongly recommends at least two professional cleanings every year, but are you aware that the majority of dental insurance companies will happily cover these two sessions at no additional cost? Obviously, they have valid reasons to encourage seeing your dentist every six months for cleanings.
Regular professional cleanings accomplish necessary maintenance for your smile. However, for various reasons, some people steer clear of a dental office—until something goes wrong. What can happen if you skip your dental cleaning? Plenty! Here are just three negative outcomes for waiting for professional help.
Avoidable Dental Pain and Damage
Once plaque hardens into calculus, you can’t take it off your teeth alone. If you don’t remove calculus from with a professional, harmful bacteria within it will create acids that erode your enamel, leading to cavities or a gum infection. Early on, cavities may not be painful, but if decay reaches deep enough into the tooth, it can be excruciating and/or cause irreversible harm.
Instead of not being able to sleep or focus from pain or even losing a tooth to damage, you can avoid this situation by having your teeth cleaned every six months and then maintaining excellent hygiene at home.
Worsening Tooth Stains
Although the surface of your teeth may feel smooth and solid, there are microscopic divots where staining food and drinks can deposit their pigment. Over time, teeth can appear yellow, dull, or even brown. However, when you have your teeth regularly cleaned with a professional polishing instrument, these minor surface stains can be lifted, helping you hold onto your smile’s brilliance.
Note that even if you faithfully go to your cleaning appointment, you may still wish to have your teeth whitened professionally because of years of buildup. However, these regular cleanings can help make the results of your whitening treatment last as long as possible and keep discoloration within a controllable range.
Wasted Money and Time
Dental treatments, especially emergency and restorative ones, take up time and money. You can’t predict exactly when a cavity will strike, but you can almost bet it will be inconvenient for your schedule and your budget. By taking advantage of free cleanings, which are part of your covered benefits in dental insurance, you can keep the money you would spend on repairs for other essentials and wants in life.
Skipping a regular dental appointment may seem to be harmless and perhaps even appealing in the short term, but the risks simply aren’t worth taking with your oral health. These cleanings are imperative to prevent cavities, gum infections, discoloration, and a myriad of other issues. If you want your smile to last a lifetime, you need to attend these regular visits and carry on with your at-home oral hygiene.
About the Practice
Nu Dental of Barnegat may be part of the Nu Dental group, but this local team is dedicated to this specific community. Dr. Admasu Gizachew, or Dr. G, knows from personal experience what it feels like to search for the perfect dentist and hopes he can meet your needs in every way. Every year, he takes more than 300 hours of continuing education to ensure the highest quality of care for our patients. However advanced his knowledge and training, he recommends simple prevention as much as possible. If you need to have your teeth cleaned and examined, call our Barnegat office at 609-879-0036 or visit our Contact Us page here.