Maintaining Your Oral Health With Spaulding Dentistry
At Spaulding Dentistry, we offer many kinds of cosmetic dentistry solutions. But those services are secondary to maintaining your most basic health oral needs. Dental cleanings and regular exams are vital to the lasting health of your teeth and gums. Just like receiving a physical from your primary care physician is the first step in making sure your body is healthy and catching illnesses early, visiting our office every six months enables your dentist to spot gum disease and other issues before they become a problem.
Importance of Exams and Cleanings
Getting your semi-annual exam and cleaning can help more than you may know. Regular cleanings can help with:
Identifying possible health issues — Your teeth can tell your doctor a lot about your overall health. By getting regular exams, Dr. Spaulding can identify signs of the following conditions:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Pneumonia
- Stroke
- Pregnancy complications
- Endocarditis
If signs of these conditions are identified, please follow up with your primary care physician.
Reducing plaque buildup — Professional teeth cleanings are one of the most effective ways to get rid of pesky build-ups of plaque and tartar. Plaque is an opaque bacteria film that hardens into tartar, a leading cause of gum disease and tooth decay. Our Decatur dental team uses specialized dental tools to clean your teeth, reaching areas you can easily miss at home. For many patients, routine cleanings are enough to reverse the effects of tooth decay and gum disease.
Identifying gum disease — While cleaning your teeth, Dr. Spaulding may be able to diagnose periodontal disease by looking for signs of gum recession, bleeding, and tooth mobility.
Screening for Oral Cancer — Thanks to modern technology, we’re able to detect even the earliest signs of oral cancer. Early detection leads to a higher survival rate, so don’t hesitate to schedule a screening appointment if you suspect you may have symptoms of oral cancer.
Establishing A Dental Routine
Having a consistent dental routine is so important to maintaining healthy teeth and gums. The ideal dental routine includes brushing at least twice per day. Dr. Spaulding also recommends flossing every day, as well as attending your bi-annual exams and cleanings to get rid of any plaque buildup you aren’t able to remove on your own.
Some other recommendations for promoting good oral health include:
- Avoid smoking and other tobacco products
- Use an antibacterial mouthwash
- Use a fluoride toothpaste
Keeping your teeth and gums healthy is a team effort. It requires work from both the dentist and the patient. Call Dr. Spaulding at (404) 634-5738 to begin working together!
Frequently Asked Questions
Professional teeth cleanings are essential to maintaining good oral health. Dr. Spaulding uses professional-grade tools to remove hardened plaque and tartar that can’t be removed by brushing and flossing on your own. If left untreated, a build-up of plaque and tartar may lead to oral health complications such as cavities and tooth decay.
Dental cleanings are generally painless, but if you have sensitive teeth or gums, Dr. Spaulding can apply a topical numbing cream. Your health and safety are our top priority, and we’ll do everything in our power to make your visits comfortable.
Children should begin seeing their dentist regularly as soon as their first baby tooth begins to come in. Plaque and tartar buildup can happen at any age, and it’s important to develop healthy habits early.
If you need to register your child to begin receiving oral exams, read our information for your first visit to Spaulding Dentistry.