Two Reasons Why Dentists Suggest That Their Patients Have Regular Teeth Cleaning Appointments

3 October 2022
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

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Here are a couple of the reasons why a dentist might suggest that their patient have more frequent teeth cleaning appointments than they normally do.

The patient has told their dentist that they're pregnant

If a dentist is told that their patient is pregnant, they may recommend that she have frequent teeth cleaning sessions throughout her pregnancy. The first reason is that gingivitis is a common issue many women experience when pregnant, even if they have good overall dental health. This is due to the effects that pregnancy-related hormonal changes have on a woman's gums. Whilst going to the dentist for frequent teeth cleanings might not prevent a pregnant woman from suffering from gum-health issues whilst she's pregnant, these cleanings could stop the gingivitis from causing too much damage to her gums and teeth, as they will remove the tartar from her teeth that could add to her gum inflammation problem.

The second reason is that many women have food aversions or experience nausea during their pregnancies, which can result in them consuming more starch or sugar-rich foods than they normally would, simply because they cannot tolerate the healthy foods they usually consume. This type of dietary change can affect a woman's dental health quite a bit, as plaque bacteria, which can cause dental decay and gum inflammation, will multiply faster if a woman is eating the high-sugar or starchy foods that these bacteria thrive on. If however, a pregnant woman has her dentist clean her teeth very regularly whilst she's pregnant, these teeth cleanings can remove the excess plaque that might be forming in her mouth and thus allow her to keep her gums and teeth healthy.

The patient intends to replace a tooth with an implant

If a dentist's patient intends to get a dental implant, their dentist might advise them to up the frequency of their teeth cleanings in preparation for this. The reason for this is that the insertion of a dental implant requires the dentist to make an incision in the gum and the patient then needs to wait for their implant and jawbone to fuse before their dentist can put an artificial tooth on top of it. It is extremely important for a person having this procedure to have excellent dental health in the run-up to it.

If for example, they have too much tartar in their mouth and their gums are inflamed when the time comes for them to get their implant inserted, they could be at greater risk of an infection when the gum incision is made or during the period when the implant and jawbone are still fusing. This could result in the dentist not being able to proceed with the implant's insertion until the patient's dental health has improved. As such, by having their dentist clean their teeth very regularly whilst they're preparing for the insertion of their dental implant, the patient can avoid developing the level of gum inflammation and plaque bacteria overgrowth that might prevent them from being able to safely undergo this procedure.

For more information, contact a local family dentist