When was the last time you had your teeth cleaned professionally? If you’re scratching your head to try to remember, then you’re probably overdue for an appointment! You may also be experiencing physical signs that remind you to make an appointment for dental cleaning in Fort Lauderdale. While some symptoms are easy to recognize, such as swollen or bleeding gums and persistent bad breath, others may be less obvious.
In this article, we investigate why it’s important to have your teeth cleaned professionally and highlight some less common signs you can look out for.
How important is it to have your teeth cleaned professionally? It might surprise you to hear that even if you have thorough dental hygiene habits, you can still benefit from regular professional cleaning. While cleaning your teeth, dentists often pick up on early signs of more serious issues, allowing for early intervention. Discovering a problem early on often means quicker recovery time and fewer time-consuming complications.
A simple test to see if you need a dental cleaning session is to run your tongue over your teeth straight after brushing. If they still feel rough, fuzzy, or gritty, you likely have a layer of hardened plaque known as tartar built up on the surface of your teeth. Tartar cannot be removed by brushing, but a professional teeth cleaning session at Eriks Dental Group will take care of it for you.
Tartar is often visible as yellow or brown marks that appear along the gum line or down the edges of teeth. Tartar forms quickly in the absence of daily dental hygiene. Within 24 hours of not brushing, the minerals in saliva mix with soft plaque to create a substance as hard as cement and as difficult to remove. Dentists use precision tools to remove tartar without injuring the gums and offer teeth whitening services to restore your smile.
A rusty, iron-like taste in your mouth in the absence of other symptoms can be a sign of gingivitis or periodontitis. Both conditions refer to different levels of inflammation of the gum or tissues surrounding the teeth, often caused by poor dental hygiene. Infected gums are more prone to bleeding. The high concentration of iron in blood gives it a characteristic metallic taste. Another common reason for metal mouth is old fillings that break down over time. Clearing up the inflammation promotes gum healing, while replacing old, broken fillings protects the integrity of the damaged tooth from further decay and removes the bitter taste.
A smile that changes due to an increase in the visible surface area of the teeth is a clear warning to book an appointment to get your teeth cleaned. Changes in the apparent length of your teeth point to gum recession caused by plaque and tartar buildup. A receding gum line may even expose the roots of your teeth if left untreated. Getting the buildup removed by a dental professional allows your gums to heal and return to a regular length of tooth coverage.
If you find there’s a lingering sour taste in your mouth that comes back even after brushing your teeth, it’s time to make a dental cleaning appointment. A sour taste can be a clear indication of a severe buildup of plaque that resists your best tooth brushing efforts, particularly in hard-to-reach areas. Your dental hygienist will do a careful inspection for any hidden abscesses, as the buildup of infected fluid can also cause a sour taste.
Adult teeth should sit securely in the gums, without shifting or loosening. Gum disease may cause gum recession, leading to loose or moving teeth that you’d experience as a change in your bite. In other words, your top and bottom teeth aren’t lining up the way they used to. Any changes in the positioning or fit of your teeth are an alarm to book yourself in at Eriks Dental Group.
Black triangles that form between your teeth at the baseline are open gaps known as Gingival embrasures. While some opt to have them filled in through cosmetic dentistry to improve their appearance, there are important gum health reasons to have them checked. Developing gaps can point to gum recession, bone loss, or thinning gum tissue.
Tooth sensitivity to cold is common, but did you know that your gums can have the same reaction? Gums that ache after exposure to cold liquid, air, or food are an early sign of gum disease. Catching gum disease in the beginning stages makes treatment easier and prevents complications that make healing more difficult. Achy, tender gums are a good reason to book your next dental cleaning in Fort Lauderdale.
Food that keeps getting stuck in new places between your teeth could point to a thickening layer of plaque or tartar. The reason this causes food to get stuck is that the calcified deposits tend to change the contours of your teeth. Severe build-up creates new pockets or hollows that catch and trap bits of whatever you’re eating.
Listen to yourself when you talk out loud. If you notice that you’re pronouncing certain words differently, especially if your teeth are sensitive or your gums keep bleeding, you may have gum disease. Loose or shifting teeth can change how you speak by creating different shapes inside the mouth than what you’re used to. Regular appointments for cleaning, scaling, or root planing will keep your gums healthy and prevent your teeth from shifting.
Whether you’re scheduling regular dental cleaning or your smile needs more urgent attention, we are here for you. At Eriks Dental Group in Fort Lauderdale, we have multiple dental specialists under one roof, ensuring you’re in good hands, whatever your dental needs are. Invest in the future of your smile and request an appointment online today.
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