One of the best ways to maintain a high level of dental hygiene is your regular cleaning and scaling. Regular cleaning, three to six months, depending on your Chandler family dentist’s recommendation, is the best way to remove plaque and to prevent tooth decay and periodontal disease. Plaque is a sticky, practically colorless film that builds continuously on our teeth. The main inhabitants of plaque are bacteria. Regular brushing, twice a day at the minimum, the use of mouth wash and dental floss, and regular cleaning can prevent the build-up of plaque. Contact our Chandler dental hygienists and our Chandler dentists to schedule an appointment for your regular cleaning.

Plaque is probably the biggest cause of tooth decay and eventual bone loss. One milligram of plaque can contain a half-billion bacteria. Bacteria ferment sugars in the mouth, changing them to acids, which then eat away at tooth enamel. As plaque builds up below the gum line, it mineralizes and becomes tartar, which is the catalyst for periodontal disease (aka “gum disease”). Gum disease is the major cause of receding, bleeding gum and tooth loss in adults. 

As stated above, plaque must be removed at least twice daily by proper brushing and the use of dental floss. However, sometimes brushing and flossing alone are not sufficient, especially in areas that are hard to reach, such as the back of your molar teeth and areas under your upper jaw. The best way, if not the only way, to remove tartar and long established plaque is to have a professional cleaning. In some cases, scaling may be required if there is a high level of build-up or if you have not been regularly visiting our Chandler family dentists and our Chandler hygienists for professional cleaning at for at least 1 year. It is important to remember that plaque will start to reform the very next day. The only one who can remove plaque regularly is you. Please contact our Chandler dentists and visit our Chandler dentistry to get an evaluation and to schedule for regular cleanings.