How to Get the Most Out of Your Dental Cleaning Appointment

Dental cleanings are essential to a preventive care plan to maintain excellent oral health and a great-looking smile.

At Reality Bites Dental, our highly skilled dental team offers professional dental cleanings for kids and adults to lower risk factors for cavities, gum disease, and other oral health complications.

They recommend keeping up with your routine cleaning appointments every six months throughout your life to maximize your oral health. Our dental team also offers some helpful tips below so you get the most out of each visit.

What to know about dental cleanings

Professional dental cleaning aims to remove the bacteria, food particles, and plaque from your teeth that you can’t reach when brushing at home.

Our team eliminates these substances from the surface of your teeth and in between your teeth to lower your risk for cavities and advanced tooth decay.  They also clean away bacteria and other debris from below the gum line to reduce risk factors for gum disease (gingivitis).

Also included in your routine dental cleaning are services like:

• Oral health exam
• Dental X-rays
• Dental flossing
• Fluoride application

If the team identifies small cavities or other oral health issues during your cleaning, they discuss what steps you need to take next.

4 tips to get the most out of your next dental cleaning

The best way to get the most benefit from your routine dental cleanings is to take great care of your oral health between cleanings. This means you should continue to brush and floss after every meal.

There are also other strategies you can use to make each additional dental cleaning a breeze, including:

1. Be mindful of what you eat and drink

Sugary and acidic foods and beverages can break down and weaken your teeth’s enamel. Damage to enamel can increase your risk for cavities in between dental cleanings.

Choose foods that support the health of your teeth, including crunchy carrots, apples, and other fresh fruits and vegetables.

2. Avoid tooth-staining products

Red wine, coffee, and tea can leave behind stains that dull your smile, leading to noticeable teeth discoloration.

Limit your use of dark-colored foods and drinks. When you consume wine or coffee, be sure to brush your teeth and rinse your mouth thoroughly to minimize staining.

3. Remember to floss

Flossing your teeth should be a part of your daily oral health care routine. Flossing helps remove food particles that settle in between your teeth and are difficult to remove with brushing alone.

4. Quit smoking for good

If you’re a smoker, speak with our dental team about ways you can quit smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco. These habits not only cause deep-set stains in your teeth but also increase your risk for serious health complications, including oral cancer.

Quitting on your own can be difficult, so our team can offer the smoking cessation resources you need to break bad habits for good.

If it’s been over six months since your last dental cleaning, call Reality Bites Dental in San Antonio, Texas, today to schedule an appointment. You can also book a consultation online.