You brush and floss your teeth twice a day, use a good mouthwash and rinse your mouth after every meal. Seems enough? It isn’t, sadly, and no matter how much you hate visiting the dentist, good dental health has a lot to do with regular check-ups.
Professional teeth cleaning is far more intensive than what a person can accomplish at home with brushing and flossing. Food particles tend to get stuck between teeth and in places that are difficult to reach such as the molars. This leads to the buildup of plaque and later, tartar, which can cause gum inflammation, cavities, gingivitis and periodontitis.
As tartar sets in, no amount of brushing or flossing can remove it as it hardens and stays put. Bacteria form to lead to many oral problems that can be easily prevented by professional teeth cleaning. In the process, bad breath or halitosis is also prevented and you don’t need to contend with embarrassment.
Regular professional cleaning also helps keep teeth white and is much cheaper than going in for an in-office whitening procedure which can sometimes look unnatural. During cleaning, dentists can also find out if there is any other problem with the teeth that may need attention.