Dental Hygiene/Exams
Your main touchpoint with a dentist should be your regular exam and cleaning visits. These are positive visits that are focused on preventive dentistry.
At Creekside Family Dental in Gahanna, OH, our hygienists are here to thoroughly clean your mouth, while our dentist will check on your oral health.
What Is Dental Hygiene?
The term dental hygiene refers to the ways you take care of your oral health, which includes your teeth, gums and mouth. Dental hygiene includes your care routine at home, such as brushing and flossing, and the cleanings you receive at the dentist’s office.
How Often Should I Come In for Dental Hygiene Visits?
The standard recommendation is to visit the dentist’s office twice a year for a professional cleaning and exam. This is good practice, as we can get your mouth cleaner than you can at home through the use of our professional tools and techniques. By coming in every six months, we can prevent problems from starting or catch them as early as possible.
If you have dental insurance, scheduling two exam and cleaning visits per year helps you fully utilize your benefits. In general, dental insurance plans provide coverage for two of these hygiene/exam visits each year, including the X-ray taken during one visit.
Why Do Professional Cleanings Matter?
It’s true that at-home dental hygiene is an important part of good oral health, yet brushing and flossing alone usually does not remove all of the substances that build up on your teeth and gum line. Also, it’s hard to reach the areas around and between your molars.
At our office, our hygienists use tools to see and reach all the hidden areas throughout your mouth. They remove the substances like plaque and tartar that could lead to decay or disease if left unchecked. By removing these substances, we reduce your risk of developing gum disease, cavities and infection.
The exam you receive during your cleaning appointment is equally important. Our hygienists and dentist may see early signs of gum disease and prevent it from progressing. They could catch tooth decay when a simple filling could treat it. We also screen for oral cancer.
These appointments give an opportunity to see if you need treatment for a dental problem or if you have a goal you would like to reach, such as whiter or straighter teeth. Voicing questions, concerns and symptoms you’ve noticed helps you gain the best care from your dental team.
How Do I Best Care for My Oral Health from Home?
Between dentist’s visits, it’s essential to practice a daily oral care routine. Professional cleanings are most beneficial in addition to your home routine.
In general, aim to brush with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day and floss once a day. Other steps you can take include using mouthwash, reducing your consumption of sugar, avoiding tobacco products and eating healthily.
We may have specific suggestions for you during your regular visits as well. Also, we can offer a new toothbrush to help with your routine. Consider our preventive services like sealants that protect back teeth and fluoride treatments that help enhance tooth enamel.
Schedule Your Routine Cleaning and Exam
Contact our office to schedule your first visit with us. After that, we can create your next biannual appointment during your visit, making it easy for you to return every six months. Call to make your appointment.