Getting a thorough dental cleaning is an important part of going in for a dentist appointment. Unfortunately, patients sometimes make inaccurate assumptions about dental cleanings that could discourage them from scheduling regular dentist appointments. 

The following are six inaccurate assumptions patients sometimes make about dental cleanings. 

Dental cleanings can be damaging to teeth.

Some patients are misinformed about cleanings and think that scraping their teeth to remove plaque or having certain cleaning solutions used on their teeth can damage their enamel.

However, dental cleanings won't damage the teeth in any way. In fact, cleanings will make the teeth stronger and healthier by removing potentially harmful plaque and tartar.

Dental cleanings expose your body to harmful chemicals.

Patients are sometimes wary of the substances that dentists use to perform professional cleanings on their teeth. They may worry that substances like tooth polish and fluoride are toxic to the body. 

When dentists perform professional teeth cleanings, they do not use any substances that are harmful to the body. Fluoride treatments used during dental cleanings expose the body to only small amounts of fluoride that are perfectly healthy and essential for minimizing cavity risk. 

Getting regular dental cleanings means you don't have to worry as much about brushing and flossing.

While dental cleanings are important and highly effective at keeping teeth healthy, patients still need to focus on maintaining good oral hygiene practices at home to avoid dental problems. Patients should never think that dental cleanings can take the place of brushing and flossing. 

Dental cleanings are only important when it comes to appearance.

As part of a standard dental cleaning, teeth are generally polished to improve their appearance. However, this is only one part of dental cleaning. Dental cleanings also include removing the plaque that causes tooth decay and detracts from the health of the teeth. 

Dental cleanings are always very uncomfortable.

Dental cleaning shouldn't be uncomfortable or painful. If you are experiencing discomfort during a dental cleaning, make sure you let your dentist know. Your dentist may be able to offer you certain options for reducing discomfort such as using numbing gel on your gums during cleanings to reduce sensitivity.

Dental cleanings aren't necessary for achieving optimum dental health.

Routine dental cleanings are essential for giving your teeth a much more thorough cleaning than you can achieve by brushing at home. If you want to keep your teeth as healthy as possible, dental cleanings are essential. 

To learn more about dental cleanings, contact a dentist in your area.