Daily brushing and flossing help promote gum and tooth health, but you should still see a professional for detailed dental care. Dental cleaning in St. Louis, MO, can help resolve and prevent common dental issues that develop over time.
Dr. Louise First and our team of dental hygienists and assistants care for Missouri citizens like family. We want you to have the smile you’ve always wanted and the dental health you need to live comfortably.
Contact our office and speak with our care team today to schedule an appointment.
Dental cleanings and exams help dentists identify and mitigate potential oral health issues that may arise. While daily at-home care is your first line of defense, some problems can occur due to genetic factors or faulty cleaning practices.
An exam gives us the time to review your dental health and help you maintain or improve your dental quality of life.
Even with at-home brushing and flossing, you may develop plaque buildup and tartar. Plaque is a bacterial film that clings to dirty teeth, while tartar is the hardened form of plaque. Dental cleaning in St. Louis, MO, twice a year allows a dentist like Dr. First to use professional tools to clean your teeth.
Tartar tends to stick to teeth like cement. As such, it requires more heavy-duty care than a brush can provide. After a dental service, your teeth and mouth will feel fresh and clean, just like new.
Dental cleanings can also help remove tooth stains so you don’t deal with constant yellowing. While some yellow is natural on teeth, darker tones can be embarrassing and cause discomfort. We can help remove some of the colors in a helpful, natural way that does not harm your enamel.
The bacteria in plaque and tartar can lead to gum disease, tooth decay, and bad breath. The cavities in tooth decay create pockets for bacteria to propagate and spread.
Cavities can cause problems with your jawbone and even other parts of your body. Each tooth has nerves and a blood supply, so issues can arise elsewhere if bacteria pollutes the blood. A person can develop periodontal disease or suffer from bone loss, leading to long-lasting oral health issues.
Our team uses a unique cavity detection system to help you catch these issues early. Even if you already have gum disease or tooth decay symptoms and signs, we can take preventative measures to reduce and roll back the impact. For example, we can use dental sealants to protect your teeth and block food and bacteria from entering the cavity.
Brushing and flossing aren’t the only things that determine your oral health. Dental cleaning in St. Louis, MO, could allow us to find signs of other health conditions, such as:
You should floss your teeth at least once a day and brush your teeth at least twice daily, according to the American Dental Association. Flossing helps remove plaque from places that your toothbrush cannot reach.
No, a dental cleaning should not cause pain. You may feel sensitive during and after the exam and cleaning, but it shouldn’t be painful. Be sure to notify us of any discomfort so we can address it.
A dental cleaning can take up to an hour. Sometimes the appointment may take longer if we take digital X-rays, do oral cancer screenings, and more. We may also use an intraoral camera to record data during your oral assessment.
The dental office of Dr. Louise First welcomes citizens in and around St. Louis with open arms. Our team makes oral maintenance easy with our paperless charting to reduce the paperwork and increase dental care time. We offer a wide range of dental services, such as Invisalign®, tooth whitening, and more.
For additional questions about dental cleaning in St. Louis, MO, call 314-837-2120 today and speak with us.
