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Carlsbad Cleanings &
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Keep a check on your oral health

Most people assume brushing and flossing regularly is enough to maintain optimal oral health. However, your oral hygiene isn’t complete without regular dental cleanings and exams. Studies have shown that regular dental cleanings are necessary to prevent dental diseases and maintain oral health for a lifetime. The dental hygienists at Carlsbad Beach Dental carefully clean and polish your teeth to remove months of accumulated debris and bacteria, polish your teeth, and ensure optimal oral hygiene.

To learn more about dental cleanings and exams, please contact Carlsbad Beach Dental, Drew Addy DDS, at (760) 729-5881 or schedule an appointment online today.

Carlsbad Beach Dental - Drew Addy, DDS in Carlsbad

Cleanings & Exams: Importance & Benefits

Regardless of the thoroughness of your personal oral hygiene habits, regular dental cleanings and exams are crucial. No matter how well you floss your teeth, small traces of food particles get lodged in deep corners of your teeth and gums. The food particles increase bacterial presence in your mouth and lead to a sticky white substance on your teeth called plaque. Over time, plaque hardens into tartar, which can’t be removed with a brush or floss.

Plaque and tartar are made of acidic substances that gradually lead to dental cavities. Furthermore, the increased bacterial presence affects your gums, accumulates around the gum line, and eventually leads to gum disease and gum recession. As such, avoiding dental cleanings can have dire consequences. That’s why you must go for regular dental cleanings and exams — the frequency of your cleanings depends on your specific oral anatomy, teeth alignment, dental history, and oral hygiene habits. Dr. Addy will examine your teeth and dental history to recommend the ideal dental cleaning schedule for your specific needs.

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Cleanings & Exams: What to Expect?

Dental Checkup

Your dental cleaning and exam start with a thorough dental checkup. Dr. Addy will evaluate your overall oral health, check the supporting structures, and identify the signs of potential dental problems. Dr. Addy will make treatment recommendations or determine the ideal schedule for your dental cleanings based on your oral checkup.

The dental checkup includes the following:

Examining each tooth for signs of dental decay and cavities
Digital X-rays to check for signs of cavities
Checking the existing dental restorations, fillings, crowns, bridges, and implants
Examining your bite alignment
Probing your gums to check for bleeding or signs of gum disease
Looking for signs of oral cancer or precancerous lesions

Plaque and Tartar Removal

After the dental checkup, one of our excellent dental hygienists will proceed with your dental cleaning. The cleaning will start with plaque and tartar removal — the dental hygienist will use a scalar device to scrape the accumulated plaque off your teeth and gums.

Dental Polishing

Once the plaque and tartar are removed, the dental hygienist will brush your teeth with a gritty toothpaste, floss your teeth, and ask you to rinse with an antibacterial fluoride mouthwash. The dental hygienist might also apply a fluoride gel over your teeth to protect them from bacterial decay.

Maintaining Optimal Oral Hygiene

Going for regular dental cleanings and exams is necessary, but it doesn’t mean you can be careless with your at-home oral hygiene. The two must go hand-in-hand to maintain optimal oral health. Furthermore, managing your oral hygiene at home will reduce the frequency at which you need dental cleanings.

The following are tips on maintaining optimal oral hygiene at home:

Brush your teeth twice a day with a dentist-recommended toothpaste
Floss regularly
Rinse your mouth with a dentist-recommended antibacterial mouthwash
Go for dental cleanings and exams at a frequency recommended by the dentist
Eat a calcium-rich diet with limited sugar

We can’t wait to see your smile shine, contact us today and schedule your appointment for a dental check-up.

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Carlsbad Cleanings & Exams