As you step into a brand new year, you want to make sure that you are putting your oral health on top priority. Having a regular dental cleaning near you with your Newmarket dentist helps prevent tartar and plaque buildup on your teeth. Also, regular scaling and polishing help maintain good oral health and stain-free white teeth. Your dental routine of brushing your teeth and flossing twice a day is not enough. However, oral care is more than that. Your teeth need special care and “pampering” to stay healthy and clean.
Why is professional dental cleaning important
Cleaning your teeth is a no-brainer – it’s about brushing and flossing your teeth. However, professional dental cleaning involves various steps to prevent or remove plaque buildup and tartar on your teeth. Plaque buildup leads to a myriad of issues, including discoloration of teeth, gingivitis (inflammation of teeth), the formation of tooth abscesses, tooth decay, and even tooth loss. Proper dental care and regular dental cleaning prevent the occurrence of common periodontal conditions, such as cavities or tooth decay. Most dentists recommend visiting a dental office every six months.
During the visits, Newmark dentists examine the mouth comprehensively. The registered dental hygienist performs routine or deep teeth cleaning, and also takes X-rays. Routine checkups help the dentists to detect the early signs of tooth decay, gum disease, and enamel erosion. Early detection allows your dentist to develop a treatment plan to relieve the symptoms of tooth decay.
The 5 steps of professional dental cleaning
Finding a skilled and qualified dental professional is crucial for a healthy mouth and healthy teeth. Make sure to visit the best dentist for your dental care and dental procedures. These are the following steps of regular dental cleaning at the Newmarket dental office.
1. Physical examination
The cleaning process begins with the physical examination of your mouth. A dental hygienist performs an exam to get a baseline of your oral health and condition. He/she uses a small mirror to look around your teeth and gums for any signs of tooth decay, plaque and tartar buildup, and gingivitis (inflamed gums).
2. Cleaning with gritty toothpaste
Once the dental hygienist removes all the tartar and plaque, he then brushes your teeth with a high-powered electric toothbrush. The grinding sound it makes should not cause you to panic. It’s an effective technique to get rid of remnant tartar during scaling. During professional teeth cleaning, a hygienist uses toothpaste that has a gritty consistency. The substance smells and tastes like standard toothpaste and helps to scrub your teeth gently.
3. Professional dental flossing
While you may floss your teeth daily, professional dental flossing is the real deal. Our Newmarket dental hygienist deeply cleans your teeth to get rid of the particles trapped between your teeth. Plus, dental floss also helps to remove the plaque or toothpaste left behind during the previous steps.
4. Rinsing
In the next steps, our dental hygienist will give you a rinse containing liquid fluoride to help you get rid of the debris and other remnants.
5. Fluoride Treatment
The last step during a dental cleaning is the fluoride treatment. Now, the dental hygienist places a gel-covered mouthpiece over your teeth. The gel is left to sit for about a minute. Fluoride treatment prevents tooth cavities for months.
Why is professional dental cleaning necessary
With proper brushing and flossing, you can prevent plaque buildup in the first place. However, if the plaque hardens and turns into tartar, professional dental cleaning becomes necessary. Poor oral health is the leading cause of tooth decay and gum disease. Regular cleaning involves
removing the bacteria and tartar buildup trapped between the gums and teeth. The gentle cleaning helps keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Gum disease
As you know, poor oral health leads to gum disease. The first stage of gum disease is gingivitis. In this stage, the patient experiences bleeding gums, swelling, redness, and sensitivity around the teeth and gums.
As the gum disease escalates to the next stage – periodontitis, the infection spreads in the gums leading to the formation of abscesses. If there is no professional intervention, this gum disease leaves a metallic taste in your mouth and bad breath. Furthermore, it leads to receding gums and tooth loss.
According to the American Academy of Periodontology, every adult should undergo a periodontal evaluation each year to identify whether additional treatment may be required. If the dental hygienist discovers any potential periodontal disease, they may consult a dentist for a green signal to go ahead with the cleaning.
Scaling and Deep Cleaning
While routine teeth cleaning is effective in cleaning your teeth, the dental hygienist may suggest scaling or deep cleaning. This dental procedure becomes necessary when deeper “pockets” form between gums and teeth. These spaces can hold bacteria and pus. During the process, also known as scaling and root planing, the dental hygienist removes the tartar and plaque buildup from the tooth surface, around your gum line, and the area between your teeth. The hygienist either uses an electric or manual scaler for the “clean sweep.” The more tartar buildup in your mouth, the longer you’ll hear the scraping. Don’t worry as it doesn’t have any harmful effects on your teeth.
Final Thoughts
Your oral health is crucial for your overall health and wellbeing. While you may have strict oral hygiene, complying with regular dental visits and dental cleanings is equally important. Dental cleanings prevent the development of periodontal diseases. Teeth cleaning helps to get rid of plaque buildup. Avoiding dental cleanings allows plaque to solidify into tartar, which eventually leads to gingivitis and periodontal or gum disease. The best way for you to prevent this from happening is to visit your dental office for preventive treatments. Schedule a professional dental cleaning with your Newmarket dentist today and maintain fresh breath, clean, and healthy teeth for life.