How often do you need to clean your teeth? Although you take good care of your teeth at home, dentists suggest that you visit them at least twice a year. And there is a very good reason behind this. Read on to see why.
Caring For Your Teeth at Home
We are all taught from a very young age to brush and floss our teeth at least twice a day. This is to ensure that you remove any remaining food particles from your teeth to prevent cavities or tooth decay. You should use a toothbrush with soft bristles and replace it every few months.
Use short back-and-forth strokes to clean your teeth on all the chewing surfaces. You can use vertical strokes to clean between your teeth, or alternatively, you can use dental floss. Make sure that you brush your teeth twice every day, especially after waking up and before bedtime.
Cleaning Your Teeth at The Dentist’s
You might think that cleaning your teeth by yourself at home might be enough. But that’s not true. You will need to visit the dentist’s to get your teeth cleaned. This is usually to clean any plaque or tartar or any hard deposits on your teeth that can affect its looks or damage to your teeth.
Visiting your dentist is important to remove any substance that regular brushing can’t. This is also to prevent gum disease. There are many reasons why dentists suggest this at least twice a year.
Return of Plaque
When your teeth are cleaned by the dentist, the process usually removes more of the bacteria that cause plaque than you would be able to on your own. But they can start recolonizing within the next 24 to 48 hours, increasing the risk of plaque formation again. And the longer plaque stays on your teeth, the more it can calcify your teeth, and you will be unable to remove it by yourself. Frequent cleaning can reduce the buildup of tartar on your teeth.
Early Warning Signs
For many dental diseases, the signs start to show a lot earlier than they appear. Frequent visits to the dentist can help identify any of these signs and prevent any of these problems in the future. One such disease is gum disease. And since this is connected to cardiovascular health, it can help you identify if you have any risk of heart attacks.
If you haven’t made up your mind to visit the dentist at least once in 6 months, then it is suggested that you do. Not only does this help you keep your healthy and in good shape, but it can also help predict any problems that are yet to surface.