{"id":132,"date":"2016-10-25T22:58:54","date_gmt":"2016-10-25T22:58:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.holcombdds.com\/blog\/?p=132"},"modified":"2016-11-21T16:51:05","modified_gmt":"2016-11-21T16:51:05","slug":"collierville-dentist-stresses-twice-a-year-cleanings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.holcombdds.com\/blog\/collierville-dentist-stresses-twice-a-year-cleanings\/","title":{"rendered":"Importance of dental cleanings twice a year from your Collierville Dentist"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"<\/a>No one likes bad breath or dirty teeth. So, brush your teeth, floss and get to your Collierville dentist, Dr. Joshua A. Holcomb<\/a>, twice a year for check-ups and professional cleanings. Yes, those are good reasons for preventive dental care. However, they are not the only ones. Learn what happens at a routine dental appointment with Dr. Holcomb and his team and about the serious reasons behind what they do.<\/p>\n

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It All Starts with Bacteria<\/h3>\n

Little microbes live in our mouths. Streptococcus mutans is the most prolific, living in the biofilm dentists call sticky plaque and hard tartar. This germ leads to tooth decay, and tooth decay leads to tooth loss and its many consequences. While a sugary diet and health conditions such as dry mouth (xerostomia) contribute to dental cavities, research shows that the Strep bacteria is the real enemy of healthy tooth enamel.<\/p>\n

Besides causing decay, oral bacteria living in biofilm attack our gums, causing redness, bleeding, pus, gum and bone recession, tooth mobility and ultimately, tooth loss. When plaque left untouched by brushing and flossing builds up at the gum line, gum disease (periodontitis) begins. This infection causes inflammation of the gums, but the inflammatory process doesn\u2019t remain localized.<\/p>\n

People with unchecked periodontitis often have:<\/p>\n