Have you ever found yourself lost in the world of toothache? It is one of those experiences in life which you think will never come to an end. And once it’s gone, you feel like the grass is greener and the colors are brighter.
But hey, prevention is always better than cure!
Some easy steps can help you prevent toothache in the first place. Read more to find out more about teeth cleaning and its importance…
Teeth Cleaning
Why Dental Cleaning at the Dentist?
Flossing, brushing regularly, as well as a healthy lifestyle, support your oral hygiene… but can never replace a visit to your dentist.
Despite all these good habits mentioned above, it is important to regularly do your cleaning at the dentist. If you need a recommendation, you can consider deep teeth cleaning at the cosmetic dentistry ballwin.
Why – you ask?
Home and dental cleanings are complementary but significantly different from each other… While daily use of the toothbrush and floss certainly helps prevent cavities and tartar buildup, only professional dental cleaning, performed jointly by a dentist and dental hygienist, can ensure long-term good oral hygiene.
Regular dental exams allow the dentist to diagnose dental complications or abnormalities in the mouth. This is to provide prompt treatment to resolve them before they become more serious.
This will prevent you from having to undergo potentially more complicated and expensive procedures.
What is a Dental Cleaning?
Good oral hygiene at home is very important and even if you are very careful with your brushing and flossing habits, bacteria build-up can occur. In addition, over time, calcium deposits (called tartar or calculus) build up on the teeth. This can provide the ideal environment for bacteria to grow near the gums.
Professional dental cleaning is therefore important to maintain your oral health.
Dental cleaning is a procedure designed to clean the surfaces of the teeth and help prevent periodontal disease. Dentists recommend a dental cleaning every six months, even if you maintain good habits at home.
Professional cleaning removes plaque and tartar from the teeth to prevent tooth decay, gingivitis, and periodontal disease. The progression of periodontal disease can lead to bigger problems such as damage to the bones and tissues in the mouth.
It can also have a major impact on your overall health and cause tooth loss leading you to replace your natural tooth with dental implants.
The Main Stages of Dental Cleaning
Descaling
Scaling is the first step in dental cleaning – It aims to remove tartar that, over months, has built up on your teeth and gums.
Tartar is formed when dental plaque is not removed by brushing. While this isn’t a problem on its own, it is porous and will retain bacteria more easily.
It then becomes more difficult to remove the dental plaque embedded in the tartar. Some areas are inaccessible to brushing, hence comes the importance of descaling every year.
The most common technique is to use ultrasonic instruments to loosen all tartar deposits, returning your teeth to their natural color and shine.
Throughout the session, water is projected into the mouth continuously to cool it and eliminate tartar in cavitation. Scaling can also be done manually using periodontal curettes.
Polishing
The second step of dental cleaning is smoothing the surface of the teeth by cleaning the dental plaque using a polishing paste…
During this step, the dentist or the dental hygienist will use a rotating instrument topped with a small brush to rid the teeth of stains and light discoloration they may have on their surface.
However, if the stains or the yellowish of the teeth are old and hard to fix, you should go for teeth whitening or even veneers.
Polishing improves the cohesion between the gum and the teeth roots. Besides, it prevents tooth loss and possible sensitivity problems.
Dental Examination
A regular oral exam is essential because the dentist will examine the inside of your mouth to look for problems that may affect your oral health and general health. Indeed, the dentist will examine not only your teeth but also the nearby gums and bones.
One of the many advantages of the comprehensive oral exam is that it can detect problems long before they arise and when they are much easier and cheaper to deal with.
When the dentist finishes his exam, he will explain to you what can be done to repair any damages he has found. If there are no big issues, minor treatment may be the solution. However, if the tooth is seriously damaged the dentist may go for more complex treatments.
To seal the deal, you must remember that with all these new technologies and developments in dentistry, you no longer have to fear visiting the dentist. The pain of a toothache is much bigger than any procedure your dentist may carry out.
Take care of your health, a healthy body is a healthy mind.