A dental cleaning is a necessary part of your oral health regimen. In addition to the obvious benefits like preventing tooth decay and gum disease, it can also improve your overall health. Studies have linked poor oral hygiene to serious diseases such as heart disease and even cancer. A dental cleaning will help prevent these conditions by removing bacteria from your teeth and gums.

The American Dental Association recommends that adults visit the dentist every six months for a professional dental cleaning. This routine procedure, also known as a prophylaxis cleaning, removes plaque and tartar from the surface of your teeth. In most cases, the hygienist will use a scaler to scrape around your gum line and in between your teeth. This step can be a little uncomfortable, and it may sound as though the hygienist is scrubbing your teeth with sandpaper. The sound is just the result of hardened plaque being removed.

After the hygienist has removed all of the plaque and tartar from your teeth, they will polish them using a gritty toothpaste. This step is what gives the teeth their clean, bright appearance. If you’ve ever wondered why your toothbrush has a grit on it, this is why. The grit helps the toothpaste clean the sides and grooves of your teeth better than you can with a regular toothbrush. After the teeth have been polished, they will receive a final rinse with water to flush out any remaining toothpaste and debris.

While brushing and flossing are important for daily oral health, they can’t completely eliminate the thousands of bacteria that reside in your mouth. Those bacteria, when left unattended, can lead to gingivitis and gum disease. In addition, some of these bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause other medical problems, such as heart disease and pneumonia.

Routine dental cleanings not only remove bacteria from the surface of your teeth, but they can also improve the look of your smile. Surface stains from food, drink and smoking can build up on your teeth over time, leaving them with a yellowish or brownish color. Professional cleanings remove these stains, giving your teeth a more white and healthy appearance.

Visiting the dentist for a regular cleaning is one of the best things you can do for your oral health. In addition to preventing gum disease and tooth decay, it can also prevent other health issues, such as heart disease, stroke, respiratory problems and complications during pregnancy. For these reasons and more, make sure to schedule a routine dental cleaning twice a year! And remember to brush your teeth and floss every day, especially after eating or drinking. Also, try oil pulling, a technique that involves moving oil through your mouth to clean and detoxify your teeth and gums. It can also improve sensitivity, whiten your teeth and reduce the amount of plaque in your mouth.