Teeth Cleaning
in Poughkeepsie & Wappingers Falls, NY

Educating our patients about the benefits of teeth cleaning to your overall health is a priority at Family Smiles of the Hudson Valley!

Understanding the value of professional Teeth Cleanings performed at Family Smiles’ Wappingers Falls and Poughkeepsie office is your first step at keeping a happy and healthy smile.

A dental prophylaxis is a cleaning treatment performed to thoroughly clean the teeth and gums. Dental prophylaxis is an important dental treatment and an effective procedure for stopping the progression of gingivitis and periodontal disease.

We can’t stress enough that prevention is your greatest defense against irreversible gum disease, infection, and halitosis (bad breath) and the potential for more serious health issues! Teeth Cleaning helps keep the oral cavity in proper health and halting the progression of gum disease. The reason tartar needs to be removed is because your body sees it as a foreign invader. As with any other foreign invader, like a flu bug or an infection, your body “sends in the troops” using the immune system to fight off the infection. There is a battle in your mouth at all times, and the war is never over. Teeth cleanings level the playing field by keeping things in check. Chronic activation of the immune system can lead to diseases in the rest of your body. That’s why preventing gum disease reduces the risk of stroke, heart disease, and dementia.

What we mean is….

Regular Teeth Cleaning by a dentist or hygienist can help rid your teeth of slight stains and yellowing, plaque, calculus and bacteria that regular brushing can’t remove. The combination of the aesthetic and health-related benefits of Teeth Cleaning is why we encourage patients to have it done every six months. Some people love getting their teeth cleaned, while others are more hesitant. Some people are more prone to severe plaque and tartar build-up than others.

Whatever the case, rest assured, our patient and gentle staff will make you feel comfortable during the whole process and answer your questions ensuring the most professional service and care possible.

The benefits of professional teeth cleaning include:

• Plaque removal. Tartar (also referred to as calculus) and plaque buildup, both above and below the gum line, can result in serious periodontal problems. Unfortunately, even with a proper home brushing and flossing routine, it can be impossible to remove all debris, bacteria, and deposits from gum pockets. The experienced eye of a dentist or hygienist using specialized dental equipment is necessary to catch potentially damaging buildup.
• A healthier looking smile. Stained and yellowed teeth can dramatically decrease the esthetics of a smile. Prophylaxis is an effective treatment in ridding the teeth of these unsightly stains.
• Fresher breath. Bad breath (or halitosis) is generally indicative of advancing periodontal disease. A combination of rotting food particles (possibly below the gum line) and potential gangrene stemming from gum infection, results in bad breath. The routine removal of plaque, calculus, and bacteria at our facility can noticeably improve halitosis and reduce infection.

A professional dental cleaning can be performed at both our Wappingers Falls and Poughkeepsie office. We recommend that prophylaxis be performed twice annually as a preventative measure, but should be completed every 3-4 months for periodontitis sufferers. It should be noted that gum disease cannot be completely reversed, but dental prophylaxis is one of the tools our dentists can use to effectively halt its progression.