Your teeth need regular TLC both at home and at your dentist’s office. Dental cleaning is especially important to keep teeth healthy by limiting the activity of bacteria in your mouth. To be as effective as possible, you need to brush your teeth twice a day and schedule a professional cleaning every six months for the following reasons.

What Your Dentist Wants You to Know About Plaque & Tartar

Your mouth is home to bacteria that can never be completely eliminated. Over time, these bacteria feed on food debris, multiply, and form a sticky film of plaque on your teeth.

If left in place, plaque leaches minerals from your tooth enamel and hardens into tartar, which can't be brushed away. Not only does tartar provide shelter for bacteria right on the surface of your tooth enamel, but it also irritates the gums and makes them more susceptible to infection.

How Dental Cleaning Helps

Daily care is the best way to remove plaque from your teeth before it can harden into tartar. It only takes a day or two for the hardening process to begin, so brushing twice daily is recommended. The best results are achieved by dedicating two minutes with a soft-bristled brush each time. For harder-to-reach spaces between your teeth, be sure to floss once a day as well.

You should also make regular appointments with your dentist, who will locate any tartar that’s managed to form in spite of your efforts at home. They'll remove the accumulation and let you know which areas of your mouth need more attention in the future. They can also help treat any gum disease you may be experiencing due to tartar buildup.

For dental cleaning in Clearwater, FL, choose Healthy Body Dental. Led by Anthony J Adams DDS PA, their experienced Pinellas County team takes a natural and holistic approach to dental care, including mercury-free treatment options. Their services range from simple exams to cosmetic procedures and restorative dentistry. To schedule, call (727) 799-3123. Learn more about the compassionate staff online.