What is the Purpose of a Dental Cleaning?
A professional teeth cleaning is also referred to as a dental cleaning. During a dental cleaning, your dentist or dental hygienist will use special instruments to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth. This process aids in the prevention of cavities and gum disease.
Why Is Having Regular Teeth Cleanings So Important?
Brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing once a day are recommended by the American Dental Association for excellent dental health. If you’re following these instructions, you might be wondering if regular dental cleanings are necessary. Why is it vital to have your teeth cleaned on a regular basis? Brushing and flossing on a regular basis are important for excellent oral health, but they may not be adequate on their own. Plaque, a sticky bacterial film that forms on your teeth, is removed with the aid of your toothbrush and floss. Plaque left on the teeth, on the other hand, will harden. Calculus, often known as tartar, is a hardened plaque.
Tartar is impossible to eliminate using a toothbrush and floss at home. It can cause gum disease or tooth decay if it stays on the teeth. These oral health issues can lead to tooth loss and other catastrophic consequences. Tartar may be eradicated with the help of a skilled dental cleaning.
How Frequently Should You Get Teeth Cleanings?
If you have good oral health, you should visit your dentist once every 6 months for a routine dental examination and professional cleaning. If you have poor oral health or a history of gum disease, your dentist may prescribe more frequent examinations or cleanings. Oral health impacts can impact your overall health, which is why keeping excellent oral health is so important.
Plaque on teeth causes tooth decay, also called cavities. Plaque has acids that eat away at your tooth’s outer layer causing microscopic holes or perforations. Over time, these holes can become wider and expand into deeper layers of your tooth, resulting in toothaches or sensitivity. Plaque left on your teeth can also lead to gum disease, which manifests in the early stages as red, swollen gums. If gum disease is left untreated, it can spread to underlying tissues and lead to bone loss and even tooth loss.
Routine Dental Cleaning Has Many Advantages Plaque and tartar are removed from your teeth during routine dental cleanings. Furthermore, obtaining frequent cleanings allows you to benefit from the various advantages of excellent oral hygiene. Dental hygiene not only keeps your teeth and gums healthy, but it may also aid your entire health.
Cavities should be avoided at all costs. Did you know that plaque on the teeth causes cavities, commonly known as tooth decay? Plaque includes acids that eat away at your teeth’s outer covering, causing microscopic holes or perforations. These holes may become wider over time and expand into the deeper layers of the tooth. This might result in toothaches and sensitivities. Dental cleanings help prevent tooth decay by removing plaque from your teeth.
Gum Disease Prevention.
Plaque left on your teeth can irritate your gums, resulting in gum disease. Gum disease manifests itself in the early stages as red, swollen, and readily bleeding gums. Untreated gum disease can worsen and spread to underlying tissues if left untreated. This can result in tooth loss as well as other catastrophic consequences. Gum disease may be avoided with good oral hygiene, which includes regular dental cleanings.
Enhance Your General Health
Oral health issues can have an influence on other parts of your body, so getting regular dental cleanings can help you maintain your overall health. Cardiovascular illnesses such as heart disease and stroke may be exacerbated by poor dental hygiene. If germs from the mouth go into the lungs, they can cause pneumonia. Severe gum disease has also been connected to difficulties in pregnant women, such as early delivery.
Teeth Whitening
There are also aesthetic advantages to maintaining proper tooth hygiene. A basic dental cleaning, for example, may be beneficial if your teeth are stained or discolored. This is because a thorough dental cleaning may remove surface stains on your tooth enamel in addition to plaque and tartar. When you consume strongly pigmented foods and beverages, such as coffee or red wine, these stains might develop over time. Stains can also be caused by smoking or chewing tobacco. You’ll have a whiter, brighter smile when these surface stains are eliminated.
Cleaning Procedure
A basic dental cleaning usually takes roughly 30 minutes. The following is a list of things you may expect during your cleaning:
- Examine your mouth
Your dental hygienist will evaluate your mouth before beginning the usual cleaning treatment. They’ll check for cavities, gum disease, and other oral issues. They’ll also inquire about your general well-being. Certain medical illnesses and drugs, for example, may have an impact on your dental cleaning. - Removal of Plaque and Tartar
Plaque and tartar will be removed by your dental hygienist using teeth cleaning devices. First, they’ll use little metal instruments to scrape the surfaces of your teeth. They’ll clean in between your teeth and along your gum line as well. This process will take longer if you have a lot of plaque and tartar. - Flossing
The next step is for your dental hygienist to clean your teeth. They’ll clean in between your teeth and around your gums. This expert flossing treatment aids in the removal of any remaining plaque. - Polishing
Polishing is a cosmetic process performed by your dental hygienist as part of your regular dental cleaning. Plaque and surface stains will be removed from your teeth using a gritty paste and an electric tooth polishing brush. Your teeth will seem smooth and bright after this intensive cleaning. - Treatment with Fluoride
Your dental hygienist may apply a fluoride treatment after cleaning your teeth. Fluoride is a mineral that aids in cavity prevention. They may instruct you to swish with fluoridated mouthwash or apply a fluoride gel or varnish to your teeth. These treatments just take a few minutes to complete. - Oral Hygiene Training
Your dental hygienist could give you some pointers on how to keep your teeth clean at home. They could, for example, offer you a quick refresher on basic brushing and flossing procedures. - Cleaning Instruments for the Dentist
Dental hygienists can clean your teeth using a number of dental equipment. Dental mirrors, dental scalers, ultrasonic scalers, saliva ejectors, and air-water syringes are some of the teeth cleaning instruments available. - Mirror for your teeth
A dental mirror is a tiny, spherical mirror with a handle that is used to examine teeth. This equipment allows your dental hygienist to see portions of your mouth that are difficult to see, such as the backs of your teeth. It also aids your hygienist in fully cleaning your teeth, since tartar accumulation may be more visible when viewed via a mirror. - Scalers for the mouth
Dental scalers are little metal instruments with curved blades that are sharpened. They scrape plaque and tartar away from the teeth. - Scalers that use ultrasonic waves
Cavitron machines, commonly known as ultrasonic scalers, are powered dental equipment. The vibrating tip of the scaler breaks up and eliminates tartar, while a stream of water washes away any debris. This gadget can clean teeth more quickly than a manual dental scaler. - Ejector for Saliva
A saliva ejector is a suction device used by dental hygienists to remove excess liquids from the mouth. They may, for example, use this gadget to suck up water after washing away trash using an air-water syringe. During the cleaning, the gadget also aids in the removal of any saliva that has accumulated in your mouth. - Syringe for Dental Air/Water
A dental air/water syringe is a portable device that sprays water, air, or mist. Dental hygienists may use this equipment to rinse away debris during a basic dental cleaning. It can also be used to remove moisture from a tooth.
Routine Dental Cleaning vs. Scaling and Root Planing
Cleaning your teeth on a regular basis is a preventative therapy. It aids in the prevention of future dental issues such as gum disease. Deep cleaning, also known as Scaling and Root Planing, is a more comprehensive technique done when gum disease has progressed. Scaling and root planing are the two phases of a thorough cleaning. Scaling is the process of eliminating plaque and tartar from your teeth as well as the spaces between your teeth and gums. Root planing is the following procedure, which involves flattening the teeth’s roots. This promotes the reattachment of unhealthy gums to the teeth.
While a routine dental cleaning can be finished in just one session, a Scaling and Root Planing process may need numerous visits. Furthermore, it may cause greater discomfort than ordinary cleaning, necessitating the administration of a topical or local anesthetic.