Do you visit Dr. Arthur Benson, your Akron, OH, family dentist, every six months for a checkup and teeth cleaning? Cleanings help you maintain your oral health and reduce your risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
Cleanings help lower your cavity risk
Teeth cleanings remove plaque and tartar from your teeth. Plaque, a sticky, colorless biofilm, is a factor in tooth decay. If you consume a food or drink that's high in sugar or carbohydrates, a chemical reaction occurs between these substances and the bacteria in plaque. The reaction produces strong acids that attack your tooth enamel and cause cavities.
Brushing and flossing are excellent ways to remove plaque from your teeth, but sometimes it's not easy to get rid of the sticky substance. If your teeth overlap or it's hard to reach every area of your mouth, plaque may begin to build up. During dental cleanings with your Akron family dentist, plaque is removed from hard-to-reach places, helping you keep your tooth decay risk low.
Regular visits eliminate tartar
The longer plaque remains on your teeth, the greater the chance it will turn into tartar. Unlike plaque, tartar is visible on your teeth. If you have tartar, you may notice that the bottoms of teeth or the areas between two teeth look a little brown.
Tartar is so hard that it won't budge when you brush and floss. In fact, the only way to get off the deposit is to visit the Akron dental office for a cleaning. Tartar is unsightly, but that's not the only problem. The deposit irritates and inflames your gum tissue and may cause gingivitis, the mildest form of gum disease. If gingivitis isn't treated, it can progress to the more serious form of the disease.
Fortunately, it's easy to keep both plaque and tartar under control by scheduling checkups and cleanings every six months. After the dental hygienist cleans your teeth, she'll polish them with a special abrasive paste that removes surface stains and helps your teeth look their best.
Is it time for your next teeth cleaning? Call your family dentist in Akron, OH, Dr. Arthur Benson, at (330) 666-8757 to schedule your appointment.