The Importance of Biannual Dental Cleanings

You might believe that dental cleanings are unnecessary if you are brushing and flossing as directed by your dentist, but that’s a myth. Your recommended biannual dental cleaning goes far beyond what you can do with brushing and flossing alone. 

Narender S. Dudee, DDS, and our experienced dental team at Steelecroft Dental in Charlotte, North Carolina, perform dental cleanings for pediatric patients and adults on a biannual basis to provide for good oral health and reduce the risk of gum disease.

How professional dental cleanings work

When you go in for a teeth cleaning, you don’t just get a tutorial in proper brushing and flossing and a quick go-over with a whirring device and some minty-fresh flavor. We give you a thorough cleaning, known as prophylaxis, and Dr. Dudee does a complete check of your teeth and gums.  

The dental hygienist focuses closely on cleaning at your gum line, which requires specialized tools such as a scaler. These tools help to remove plaque. Plaque is a hardened or calcified form of tartar, which brushing and flossing cannot remove. Your chairside dental cleaning helps remove all plaque and tartar and stimulate your gums. 

Biannual cleanings go beyond a check, scrub, and rinse

If you only visit the dentist when you have a toothache or other issue, think again. When you skip biannual cleanings, it can be almost impossible to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Prophylaxis is the primary goal of your biannual checkup, but this dental visit also gives us a better chance of catching any oral health problems early.  

Dr. Dudee can discover common issues like cavities and more complex ones like gingivitis at earlier stages when he sees you twice a year. If he finds a problem, Dr. Dudee can treat it during the early stage. This can help resolve small issues and prevent them from becoming big ones.  

Health benefits of biannual cleanings

The benefits of biannual cleanings go beyond having a sparkling smile. Oral health issues such as gum disease, tooth decay, and infections in the mouth or below the gumline can negatively affect the health of the rest of your body.  

Gum disease left undiagnosed and untreated can cause issues with how your body processes insulin, increasing your risk of diabetes. The health of your mouth and teeth is also closely linked to heart disease and pregnancy complications. 

If you’re ready for your next dental cleaning, call our office or book your appointment using our online scheduling tool.