And we certainly didn’t know that unless we had a professional cleaning by a dental hygienist twice a year we would end up with periodontal disease, an infection of the gums that peels them away from their support for teeth. It can even spread to the jawbone in which teeth are anchored. It is no wonder that Americans ages 35-44 have already lost at least one tooth, and shocking, but not surprising, that 26% of those 75 or older have lost all their teeth.

Your dental hygienist has the tools and techniques that can make all the difference to your oral health and ability to avoid pain and high bills, while maintaining the ability to chew and speak well. It starts with her ability to scrape off the bacterial film sticking to your teeth called plaque, which forms around food particles when you don’t brush and floss adequately, especially in those hard-to-reach places. These steps can help determine if treatments such as a root canal is necessary. If you haven’t had a regular professional cleaning, this may even have hardened into what is called tartar, which is much more difficult to remove.

It is generally recommended that you have this done twice a year to keep plaque and tartar from causing rampant infection in the gums and the jaw. Once a year, you will want to have a digital x-ray (which involves minimal radiation) so your dentist can see whether your jawbone remains intact. If not, you will need to have a bone graft to restore it to full health, even to be able to keep your teeth in alignment and avoid having them fall out. 

It has now been proven that unless periodontal bacteria are prevented from doing their damage to your mouth, they will spread throughout the body, significantly raising the risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and even Alzheimer’s.

If you have not had a dental hygienist in West Los Angeles provide a professional cleaning recently, contact Lotus Family Dental today to schedule one.

Read more cosmetic and general dentistry resources below:

• How Using a Straw When Drinking Benefits Your Dental Health
• How Smoking Affects Dental Implants Treatment