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14.12.2018 15:30:08
A radiant white smile is possible now and in old age. However, by using a toothbrush and dental floss, patients often cannot adequately clean their teeth. This is the opinion of Dr. Elmar Hellwig, Professor and Head of the University Clinic of Freiburg, and Dr. Hans-Hugo Wilms. Therefore, professional cleaning, as an addition to the oral hygiene of the home, should not be neglected.
Regular professional cleaning has a triple advantage. “It’s absolutely indisputable that patients who regularly get professional cleaning and thoroughly clean their teeth every day have much better oral health than those who don’t,” explains Hellwig. In addition, the latest study showed that they “lost fewer teeth and showed fewer signs of inflammation. In earlier studies, you can see that they are less likely to have caries.”
The elimination of harmful bacteria in the mouth benefits the whole body. “For example, diabetes or rheumatic diseases cause poor condition of the teeth and gums, and in turn, poor oral health partially influences the course of the respective diseases,” said Hellwig. However, professional cleaning not only prevents diseases. Cosmetic effect is also noticeable. The teeth are brighter, shinier and look smooth. “So sometimes people wonder how white their teeth are if they are really clean,” says Wilms.
Along with the actual treatment, motivation and recommendations for proper oral hygiene in adult patients play an important role, since “dental care must be learned and trained,” explains Hellwig. Currently, prevention is in the first place instead of eliminating harm, since the best filling is the lack of need for a filling.
The dentist decides individually in each case how often the patient needs to get professional cleaning. First of all, people with chronic oral diseases such as periodontitis should have this procedure performed more often so that the disease does not recur or progress.
Patients with implants and elderly people or people in need of care are also advised to regularly visit the dentist, since “the elderly also should not lose their teeth”, says Hellwig. Wilms adds, “A huge risk factor is one’s own attitude to the daily cleaning of the teeth.” Possible pains, duration and cost of professional cleaning are individual.
According to Wilms, some patients feel this procedure unpleasant, for others it is health-improving. It depends on the individual sensitivity to pain. If you have the procedure performed more often, it is not so time consuming.
