Brushing your teeth and flossing can remove most plaque and tartar buildup, but not all. Eventually, a thin sticky film of bacterial waste develops on the enamel and slowly thickens over time, putting you at risk of cavities and gum disease.
Professional cleaning is a dentist-approved technique designed to improve teeth hygiene beyond home brushing and flossing alone. Dental professionals use specialist tools to provide deep teeth cleaning once every six months to minimize the risk of oral health issues.
How Does Dental Cleaning Work?
Dental cleaning is a straightforward and simple process. It begins with a physical exam during which a dentist or a hygienist inspects your mouth, looking for any signs of inflamed gums or tooth decay. Depending on the thorough dental and gum exam, the type of dental cleaning will be decided.
Dental providers then use a mirror and a scaler tool to remove plaque and staining on and around teeth manually and utilizing equipment. They also target tartar or calculus – old, hardened plaque that tends to accumulate more on the inside-facing surfaces of your teeth.
Scaling typically lasts between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on the condition of your teeth and the amount of plaque requiring removal. During the process, debris from cleaning can build up on the tongue and elsewhere. Because of this, dental providers will invite you to swish out your mouth regularly.
Once the dental provider removes the plaque, they then move on to gritty toothpaste cleaning. Here, the practitioner places a small amount of gritty toothpaste on an electric brush and begins polishing your teeth, removing any residual plaque the scaler didn’t get. The toothpaste tastes the same as the regular home version, but you’ll notice that the texture is a little grittier.
Next, your dentist may offer you expert flossing, locating areas between your teeth requiring special attention. Flossing removes plaque other tools can’t reach while also eliminating any leftover toothpaste or plaque.
Lastly, your dentist will invite you to rinse your mouth out. If you have a lot of plaque on your teeth, the rinse may be discolored when you spit it out.
What Are The Benefits Of Dental Cleaning?
Dental cleaning offers a host of benefits. These include:
- A reduction in bad breath
- Cavity prevention
- Tooth loss prevention
- A brighter smile
- Coffee, tea, and wine stain removal
- Improvements in overall health
- A reduction in the likelihood of gum disease
Should You Invest In Dental Cleaning?
Dental cleaning not only gives you a great smile but also reduces your risk of developing oral health conditions in the future. Getting a regular cleaning every six months could save you money in the long-term, preventing the need to spend money on more invasive dental procedures, such as extractions, root canal treatments, and fillings. It can also dramatically reduce the likelihood of developing periodontal disease, a serious infection that can develop below the gum line.
