The Difference Between Dental Cleanings and Cleaning My Teeth Myself

Brushing and flossing at home are essential, but those habits don’t negate the need for professional dental cleanings. By embracing both, you can enjoy the many perks of lasting teeth and gum health. 

Our experienced team of dentists at Swinney Dental in Tyler, Texas, offers preventive dental care and thorough cleanings to optimize your oral health. 

Here’s a look at the difference between professional cleaning and brushing and flossing at home.

Brushing and flossing at home

Taking care of your teeth by brushing at least twice and flossing once daily can go a long way toward keeping your teeth and gums healthy. These habits can remove food particles and harmful bacteria that can lead to plaque buildup and related problems over time. In fact, research shows that kids who brush their teeth have less than half the risk of cavities compared to kids who never brush.

There are limitations to home care for your teeth and gums, however. And that’s where professional cleanings come in.

Professional dental cleanings

Professional dental cleanings provide a more in-depth cleaning of your teeth and a closer look at the inner workings of your teeth and gums. And routine X-rays, which often accompany cleanings, allow our team to detect problems, such as tiny cavities, that aren’t yet causing bothersome symptoms. These attributes make way for positive and lasting oral health.

At Swinney Dental, we use specialty tools during cleanings to remove plaque buildup that you wouldn’t be able to remove on your own. That’s why you need to schedule a professional dental cleaning once per year — or more, if you have certain risk factors — to prevent gum disease and related tooth loss.

Dental cleanings in our office also reduce stains, leaving you with a brighter and whiter smile. So you might find that your cleanings provide a nice confidence boost too. 

Putting it all together

To make the most of your oral hygiene habits and your dental cleanings, make them both habitual. Our team at Swinney Dental can recommend the ideal frequency of professional cleanings, which tend to vary between 1-3 per year. If you have risk factors for gum disease, such as diabetes, you may need more frequent cleanings and exams.

During your cleanings, we can teach you how to improve your at-home cleaning routine. We can show you proper flossing techniques, for example, or recommend a different type of toothbrush. 

To learn more about dental cleanings or to get the care you need, call our dental team at Swinney Dental today. You can also schedule an appointment using the convenient online booking feature on our website.