Everyone wants to have a great smile which is why good oral hygiene is important! Having poor oral hygiene can lead to a variety of problems such as gum disease, infection, bone loss, heart disease, strokes etc.

What is Oral Prophylaxis ?

Oral prophylaxis is a procedure in which plaque and calculus is removed from the surface of the teeth with the help of scaling and polishing. It is not the same as teeth whitening, because it is mainly performed to prevent decay and other oral complications rather than for aesthetic reasons. Nowadays dentists use automatic scalers which do not cause any pain at all and are also quite easy to use. Moreover, these types of devices effectively remove all stains without any trouble. 

Oral prophylaxis is also sometimes prescribed to people who have crooked teeth before starting the treatment with braces. This is because with braces, it becomes even more difficult to properly clean the teeth and the amount of plaque and food debris keeps on increasing until it starts causing problems. Proper dental hygiene is achieved by removing unsafe deposits from exposed and unexposed surfaces of the teeth thus preventing the formation of cavities and other serious oral conditions. Since specialized equipment is used to perform this procedure one should only have it done by a licensed dental practitioner.

Consequences of Poor Oral Hygiene

Poor oral hygiene invites plaque to accumulate around the base of your teeth and gum line, causing your gums to become red, inflammed and susceptible to bleeding.

Plaque is the bacteria-laden film that, if allowed to accumulate on teeth and gums, will cause tooth decay and gum disease.

If you neglect the care of your teeth at home and fail to go to the dentist regularly, accumulated plaque could potentially lead to the development of empty spaces around your teeth. These spaces could eventually lead to the destruction of bone and other fragile tissues supporting your teeth, and you could lose your teeth.

Being diligent about your dental health care, getting regular dental checkups and getting Oral Prophylaxis done once in every 8-10 months , can prevent plaque from forming and even reverse early gum disease. 

A plaque-free mouth is a healthy mouth. 

Remember Healthy Smiles = Healthy You!