Twice daily brushing and daily flossing will help keep our mouths healthy and significantly reduce the risk of needing extensive dental treatment.  Despite our best efforts though, there are some things that build up over time that are almost impossible to address with a regular home maintenance regime.  Having a professional clean with your 6 monthly check-upsis a great way to address remove these build-ups and make sure we’re on the right track with our home care.

The first and most important of these build-ups that needs addressing is the build-up of calculus, or tartar. Calculus is basically a hard mineral like substance that builds up over time. Most typically, this build-up is found in areas that have a lot of saliva, like the inside of your bottom front teeth (where saliva pools), and the outside of your upper molars (where a major salivary duct sits).

Dental Fillings | Kedron Family Dental

The calculus itself really has no negative impact on the teeth itself, however it does create a lot of places for plaque to hide, that are very difficult to clean, including areas under the gums, which can exacerbate gum (periodontal) disease. Dental professionals have specialised instruments that can effectively remove this hard mineral and return your teeth to a nice and smooth surface that have be easily and effectively cleaned at home.

Staining is another thing that can build up on our teeth over time that a toothbrush will usually be ineffective against. Most typically from drinking things like tea, coffee and red wine, these stains sit on the outside of the tooth and can be easily cleaned off with the right instruments.

While calculus and staining are very difficult to handle at home, plaque is very soft and easy to clean at home. Unfortunately, we can sometimes unintendedly leave plaque behind in some areas when we brush and floss at home. Your professional clean will also get rid of all your plaque, but it can also be a great opportunity to learn where you’re falling short and be provided with tips to do it just that little bit better at home.

In some situations, more regular cleaning might be recommended, but regardless of the severity, having a professional clean with your check-up is a great way to know where we stand.

If it’s been a while since you’ve had a clean, or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to give us a call on (07) 3379 1328