Prevent Problems in Your Mouth with Dental Exams and Cleanings

Are you fed up with the frequent reminders from dentist Wenatchee, WA, or your long-overdue dental exams and cleanings? It would help if you weren’t because the dentist is merely trying to ensure you don’t get oral infections in your mouth overlooking the reminders.

You may have various reasons for dreading the dental exam and teeth cleaning. You may not like the prodding and the occasional jaw discomfort with strange noises contributing to your apprehension. However, cleaning is a painless and straightforward process for most. There is no reason for you to fear it. Most importantly, the exams and cleanings help prevent problems developing in your mouth, allowing you to enjoy better dental and oral health.

If you are stressed about your dentist’s reminders, please read this blog with information to help ease your stress and allow you to enjoy minty-fresh results.

What Happens During a Dental Exam?

During dental exams, the dentist or hygienist will clean your teeth, looking for cavities and gum disease. The professionals also evaluate your risks of developing other oral problems by checking your face, neck, and mouth for abnormalities. Dental exams might include dental x-rays and other diagnostic procedures.

The dentist or hygienist will likely discuss your oral hygiene habits and diet and demonstrate appropriate brushing and flossing techniques. Other topics might include lifestyle factors that may affect your oral health and cosmetic improvements of your teeth.

Why Is a Dental Exam Essential?

Regular dental exams help protect not just your dental health but also your overall health. For example, systemic diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes make an appearance in the mouth initially. If your dentist or hygienist identifies indications of these diseases, they suggest that you see your primary care provider. Furthermore, the exam enables your dentist to provide tips on caring for your teeth and detect oral health problems early when treatments deliver excellent outcomes.

What about the Teeth Cleaning Procedure?

A registered hygienist performs the teeth cleaning process. Small mirrors are used by the professional you check around your teeth and gums for signs of gingivitis and other potential problems.

The small mirror also helps the hygienist guiding them when using a scaler for plaque and tartar removal around your gum line and between your teeth. You will hear scraping sounds that are normal. Tartar buildup results from improper brushing and flossing, and once plaque hardens to tartar, you need professional help for the removal.

After plaque and tartar removal, the hygienist brushes your teeth with an electric toothbrush and gritty toothpaste. The polishing is an excellent way to get a deep clean to remove any tartar left behind by the scaler.

You also receive an expert flossing demonstration as the hygienist gets deep between your teeth, looking for any potential trouble spots where you might bleed from the gums. The demonstration may seem unnecessary if you are regularly flossing at home. Still, nothing can beat a professional demonstration, helping you remove any leftover plaque and toothpaste from the earlier cleaning process.

The final step of the cleaning process is getting fluoride treatments. Fluoride helps protect your teeth in their battle against cavities for several months. Fluoride treatments merely require a couple of minutes to complete because the fluoride hardens when it comes into contact with saliva. You are restricted from having any food or drinks for the next 30 minutes but after that can enjoy yourself.

How Often Are Dental Exams and Cleanings Necessary?

You must schedule professional exams and teeth cleanings twice a year, while x-rays are usually taken once a year. However, depending on what your dentist observes in your mouth and your risks of tooth decay and dental hygiene routine, the dentist might perform additional exams during your visit. Children receive molar sealants as a preventive measure against cavities in the difficult-to-brush areas.

Whether you need additional exams or not, you mustn’t overlook your dentist’s reminders for dental exams and cleanings. This process helps prevent most oral problems altogether. You will feel at ease and even look forward to the appointments by understanding the entire process in advance.

We hope you will not overlook the reminder from the dentist in East Wenatchee, WA, for dental exams and clean and schedule your appointment right away to prevent problems in your mouth.