What’s the Difference between a Professional Cleaning and At-Home Oral Hygiene?

You know how to clean your teeth. You’ve been doing it your whole life. For those who are extremely diligent and thorough with their own personal oral hygiene, it may be tempting to think that regular professional cleanings aren’t actually necessary. While an understandable thought, there are some significant differences that make professional cleaning important.

When you brush your teeth, how much of your teeth can you actually see when you brush? Odds are it’s not much, or at least not nearly as much as your dentist can. Because you can’t see both the front and back of every tooth in your mouth, it’s easy to miss spots that you wouldn’t if you could see everything. When you have your teeth professionally cleaned, the combination of the reclined position you’re in and the small mirror used when cleaning your teeth provides a complete view of the surfaces of your teeth.

Speaking of that tiny mirror, dentists have a lot more tools at their disposal to clean your teeth than you do. While you have floss, toothbrush, toothpaste, and mouthwash, dentists have a whole array of instruments and tools they can use to give your teeth a much more thorough cleaning. Consider that simply brushing your teeth isn’t going to be enough to get rid of any built-up tartar. The tools your dentist has, on the other hand, can get rid of it when used by someone who knows what they’re doing.

All of this adds up to a professional cleaning being a much more thorough cleaning than what you’re likely doing with your at-home oral hygiene. Dentists can get between your teeth and between the teeth and gums to give you a complete cleaning that will help protect the health of your teeth. That isn’t to say that what you’re doing at home is in any way unimportant. For best results, you should continue a strict, thorough personal oral hygiene regimen and visit the dentist on a regular basis as well.

Having your teeth cleaned by a professional plays an important role in keeping them healthy. They have a better view of all of your teeth and the tools to be incredibly thorough about cleaning them. Make having your teeth regularly cleaned by a dentist a regular part of your oral care to help them stay healthy and strong.

Ready to have your teeth cleaned? Check out our Teeth Cleaning Services and request an appointment today.

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