Oral Exams and Cleaning: Sydney's Top Dentist - TLC Dental
Sugar. Plaque. Bacteria.
These are the silent enemies that wreak havoc on your oral health. They can be nearly-invisible, and start causing damage before you can see or even feel anything.
Yes, regular brushing and flossing work to remove gunk left on your teeth after meals, but unfortunately, even brushing and flossing can’t always remove everything. The special tools of a dental hygienist are created to thoroughly purge your teeth of plaque, sugar, bacteria, and anything else that might interfere with your oral health.
Even if you don’t have a toothache, your oral health might be deteriorating under the surface. At our office, we offer X-rays and oral exams that can catch oral health issues as they begin – before they turn into toothaches, headaches, and worse.
At TLC, we recommend regular cleanings every 6 months to keep your mouth and teeth happy and healthy.
Monday | 8:00AM – 6:00PM |
Tuesday | 1:00PM – 7:00PM |
Wednesday | 8:00AM – 6:00PM |
Thursday | Closed |
Friday | 8:00AM – 5:00PM |
Saturday | Closed |
Sunday | Closed |
Do I need the oral exam and cleaning if brush and floss every day?
Brushing and flossing is a great way to keep away plaque and bacteria and protect your oral health. However, it can’t fully protect you from oral health problems.
The Right Tools = The Right Results
Just like a car mechanic has the right tools and expertise to care for your car, and a nurse has the right tools and expertise to detect health issues early on, your dental hygienist has the tools and expertise necessary to clean plaque out of areas that your brush may have trouble reaching.
Some teeth have nearly-invisible pits and crevices that cannot be thoroughly cleaned with home brushing and flossing alone, so having these cleaned on a regular basis by a hygienist will help you keep your teeth healthy.
Professional Screening for Other Issues
Additionally, when you brush your teeth, you can’t necessarily check your mouth for signs of oral cancer, gum disease, or other issues. When you go for a regular cleaning, however, your hygienist will check your teeth and gums for any unusual spots or problem areas, even in places you may not be able to see yourself. If you have any concerning symptoms, they’ll inform you before those symptoms become serious problems.
Do I need to see the dentist if I don’t have any tooth pain?
Some dental issues don’t hurt when they first start, but can cause major problems in the long term. For example, if you have an abscess, it may not be painful if it’s draining itself. However, even a painless abscess is a sign of gum disease – the number one cause of adult tooth loss.
Additionally, if you are experiencing any problems under the surface of your gums – such as tumours, cysts, or the beginnings of tooth decay – your dentist will be able to detect these early on.
If you have any current treatments in your mouth, such as crowns, fillings, implants, or veneers, your dentist can check to make sure these are secure and in good condition. Loose fillings, cracks, or worn-down dental treatments can harbour plaque and bacteria that can harm your teeth, so maintaining these is important to keep all of your teeth in good health.
I have bad breath. What to do?
That’s fine – you wouldn’t be the first one! In fact, bad breath is a symptom of other oral health issues, such as gum disease. If you have bad breath, you should come see us for a cleaning and exam; it may uncover the underlying cause of your bad breath and prevent further damage to your gums and teeth.
“I haven’t seen a dentist in years”
We won’t judge. Life happens. While we recommend cleanings and exams every 6 months, we know sometimes people miss cleanings because of other things happening in their life. Our professional team will still help you clean your teeth and examine them to make sure no oral health issues have come up in the last few years. If we notice oral health issues, we will recommend treatments that may help you, but we will never force treatment on you.
Come see our friendly office today!
If you’re ready to schedule a dental cleaning, call us at TLC Dental! Whether it’s been 6 months or 6 years or more, we’ll welcome you to our practice and help you make sure your teeth are bright and healthy.