Regular visits to Circle Drive Dental are essential for keeping your mouth healthy and clean. But life is busy, and it’s not uncommon to delay a scheduled teeth cleaning. You don’t want to put off visiting our general dentist for too long though, or you might encounter one of the following signs that you’re overdue for a checkup.

Occasional bad breath is an unfortunate fact of life. Consuming substances like garlic, falling asleep on the couch without brushing your teeth, smoking while having a cup of coffee - these are things that can cause temporary bad breath. However, if you’ve avoided these circumstances, practice good daily oral hygiene, but still experience persistent bad breath for several days straight, you’re definitely due for a dental cleaning.

Here we consider “implants” to be anything our dentist has placed in your mouth: veneers, bonds, fillings, and the like. Everything cosmetic or otherwise. If you wake up one day and become aware of a loose filling, or if you bite into an apple and feel pain in a certain tooth, it’s likely that an implant has loosened or broken. It’s important to remember that even though today’s dental implants are of the highest quality, they’re still susceptible to problems - no matter how well you care for them. In the event of an implant issue, you might also be due for a teeth cleaning, allowing you to tackle two issues at once.

Many of us are guilty of brushing or flossing too hard from time to time, which can cause our gums to bleed. Similarly, if you start flossing after taking a long time off, bleeding of the gums is a common side-effect. Unfortunately, bleeding gums are also a symptom of gingivitis, a much more serious problem that requires immediate dental consultation. Your best bet is to make an appointment with our nearby dentist, especially if you’re overdue for a cleaning.

The longer you go without a thorough cleaning, the more susceptible your mouth is to oral sores. These in turn can lead to more serious issues like cold sores, canker sores, candidiasis (a fungal infection characterized by white patches in the mouth), and leukoplakia (thick, white/gray patches in the mouth). The rule of thumb is that if a sore lasts more than a week, you should have it looked at. But if you’ve also put off your periodic teeth cleaning, we encourage you to visit us sooner than a week.

Rare is the person who’s unaware of the “get a dental cleaning every six months” mantra. Thus, the easiest way to tell if it’s time for your next teeth cleaning is if you’ve let more than a half-year pass since your last visit to our local dentists.

At our Rochester dental office, a healthy mouth starts with regular biannual teeth cleanings. This sets the foundation for strong teeth and gums, and minimizes the chances of infection and oral pain. Circle Drive Dental offers everything you need, so contact us today and schedule a consultation.