Dental Cleaning Near You

At Cobblestone Dental, our hygienists provide dental cleanings in Grande Prairie to keep your teeth clean and your smile looking great. While regular cleanings are necessary for dental health, we recognize that personal oral hygiene routines are critical, too. Our professional dentist in Grande Prairie and hygienists will help you establish a routine to keep your smile healthy, as well as assess your mouth’s current health.

Dental Cleaning Grande Prairie

Why is Oral Hygiene Important? It’s Your First Line of Defense!

Oral hygiene is one of the primary means of preventing gum disease. Hygienists will measure your gums yearly to create a history and can tell you if they are becoming prone to diseases. Through this assessment, preventative strategies can be implemented to prevent future issues.

Gum or periodontal disease has been linked with several problems, from cavities and tartar build-up to more significant problems such as diabetes, heart disease and dementia.

Because our mouths are warm and moist, bacteria can and will grow. When we eat and drink we are feeding these bacteria. If our mouths are healthy and our hygiene practices are regular and appropriate, this is not normally a problem. But if our mouths are compromised by gum disease, it is believed that the bacteria and their toxic byproducts can go from our gums to our bloodstream and from there to our organs. A well-studied but not yet understood connection is between diabetes and oral health. Diabetes can lead to periodontal disease (bone disease), but periodontal disease also leads to diabetes. Gum disease has also been associated with dementia, cardiovascular disease, kidney and liver disease, osteoporosis, pneumonia, pregnancy complications, and rheumatoid arthritis.

These are just some of the significant health issues that can be avoided by regular cleanings and excellent brushing, flossing, and mouthwash habits. If you’d like more information about dental cleaning near you, please reach out to us.

Dental Cleaning Near You

What are Hygienists Looking For?

At Cobblestone Dental, we prioritize dental cleaning in Grande Prairie as part of our comprehensive dental hygiene program. A hygienist can identify warning signs when you have regular visits and relay these issues to a dentist near you. Six months between cleanings is generally accepted as the frequency between visits though you and your dentist may establish a different timeline, especially if you are at risk.

On a yearly basis, your hygienist will measure your gums to assess your risk for gingivitis and periodontitis. This is what the measurements mean:

  • 0-3 mm without bleeding: healthy gums.
  • 1-3 mm with bleeding: early signs of gingivitis (gum disease). A strong program of dental hygiene and home care can normally solve this.
  • 3-5 mm without bleeding: gum disease could be beginning. A shorter duration between visits is advised to monitor this.
  • 3-5 mm with bleeding: this may be the beginning of gum disease. Additional treatment and a shorter duration between visits may be advised.
  • 5-7 mm with bleeding: bone loss and damaged tissue are likely. Hygiene visits and special treatment are likely necessary. A plan for better home maintenance is also advised.
  • 7 mm and above: this is normally an advanced stage of periodontal disease and surgery to repair the bone loss will be required. In addition, regular, frequent periodontal maintenance will be needed.

What Does Good Oral Hygiene Look Like?

Regular visits to see a hygienist are the first step to good oral hygiene. They can also advise you on appropriate methods of maintaining your oral health and may tell you if any of your current practices are inadequate or even harmful. Our hygienists at Cobblestone Dental would love to be part of your oral health program. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns about dental cleaning near you.