Oral health is more important than you may think. Proper dental hygiene has been linked to overall health in a variety of ways, so it’s safe to assume taking care of your smile benefits the rest of your body, too. If you aren’t visiting Legacy Dental Arts in Eagle River, AK, for a professional teeth cleaning twice a year, it’s time to start doing so.

The Importance of Teeth Cleaning

The Threat of Plaque & Tartar

When you eat or drink something, tiny particles from the food stick to your teeth in the form of a sticky film called plaque. If you run your tongue over your teeth, you may be able to feel it. As the sugars from your food interact with plaque, it turns acidic and begins to eat away at the protective enamel layer covering your teeth. Brushing and flossing twice a day should remove this plaque, but it’s commonly left in hard-to-reach spots, such as between teeth or along the gum line. As it sits there, it hardens and turns into tartar, which is difficult to remove. Hundreds of bacteria live in both plaque and tartar. They can cause gum disease, leading to cavities, receding gums, and tooth or bone loss.

The Effects of Cleaning

When you visit your dentist for a teeth cleaning, they will use a variety of tools to remove plaque and tartar buildup. They may use X-rays and visual inspections to look for potential issues such as cavities or signs of gum disease and oral cancer. If there is something wrong with your oral health, they will pinpoint the issues and determine the best way to address them. Dentistry experts have found the ideal frequency of routine checkups to be every six months.

The team at Legacy Dental Arts offers a range of professional dental services, so you can enjoy a healthy smile in a comfortable environment. If you get anxious at the dentist, take advantage of their sedation dentistry. Contact them at (907) 622-7874 to schedule your teeth cleaning appointment, or visit them online to learn more.