6 October, 2021

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Routine Dental Cleaning: Everything You Need to Know

Your dental health is a crucial part of your overall health. But with how busy our lives are, it’s easy to forget to schedule that routine dental cleaning and checkup. Nevertheless, it’s important to visit your dentist and hygienist every six months, even if nothing bothers you.

A visit to a dentist’s office might not be the most exciting event in your calendar, yet professional dental cleaning is nothing you should be afraid of. It helps maintain good oral health, prevent periodontal diseases, gingivitis, and save you money in the long run. Plus, visiting your dentist regularly can help identify any potential oral problems and stop them from worsening.

Wondering whether you need to book an appointment for a dental checkup? Here’s what an experienced team of dentists, hygienists, and dental assistants at Swedish Dental would like you to know about routine dental cleaning and its importance.

What Exactly Is Dental Cleaning?

The main goal of dental cleaning is to remove plaque and tartar deposits that can contribute to gum disease and other unpleasant oral issues. Here are two types of dental cleaning you should know about:

Routine Dental Cleaning

Usually, you’ll get this type of cleaning during your regular 6-months checkup. Your hygienist will use a variety of special tools to get rid of hard tartar deposits and plaque from your teeth and above the gums. This procedure will help prevent gum disease and its lighter form, gingivitis. And it’s also a great way to keep bad breath away.

During your routine dental cleaning, feel free to ask questions about oral health and how you can improve your at-home oral care habits. Your dentist and hygienist will be more than happy to provide some tips and tricks to help you maintain your teeth and mouth in top shape.

Deep Dental Cleaning

Unlike regular dental cleaning, deep cleaning is usually recommended for people with moderate to advanced gum disease. This type of cleaning includes removing bacteria, plaque, and tartar below the gum level and around the roots.

When you get older, your gums are more prone to pulling away from your teeth, which results in little pockets that enable bacteria to grow and travel all the way to your roots. This makes your roots weaker and can make them fall out. After examining your teeth and gums, your dentist will let you know whether you require regular or deep dental cleaning.

What to Expect From a Routine Checkup and Dental Cleaning?

There’s nothing to be terrified of when it comes to your routine dental checkup. Your dentist will make everything possible to make you feel comfortable and safe while taking care of your whites.

Here’s how it usually goes:

  1. Dental Checkup
    Once you’re nicely seated in a chair, your dentist will examine your overall oral health. This may include checking for cavities, evaluating your gums, taking X-rays, assessing the amount of plaque and tartar, etc.
    After that, you’ll get your tongue, mouth, face, and neck for any signs of inflammation,  an incorrect bite, or other issues. Finally, they’ll provide you with the next steps regarding your oral health and the actions you might need to take.
  2. Dental Cleaning
    This is the time when the hygienist removes plaque, tartar, and bacteria from your teeth and gum line with the help of either a manual or ultrasonic scaler. Then they’ll use a special electric tool with gritty toothpaste to professionally polish teeth. Finally, a dental hygienist will floss your teeth to get rid of the remaining paste and plaque.
  3. Fluoride Treatment
    While a dental cleaning procedure may vary from place to place, you’ll usually get fluoride treatment during your dental cleaning procedure. You’ll need to wear a mouthpiece filled with fluoride gel for a few minutes. You might even be able to pick your favourite flavour of fluoride gel.

Dental cleaning is usually not painful. However, if you have very sensitive teeth or haven’t had a cleaning done in a while, it might feel a little bit uncomfortable. Your hygienist will make sure to make this treatment a positive experience for you and apply local anaesthesia if needed.

Benefits of Dental Cleaning

The next time you consider postponing your routine dental checkup and cleaning, you might want to remind yourself of the benefits that visit can bring you:

  • You’ll be able to enjoy a fresh breath as the bacteria that was happily living in your mouth and causing bad breath will be gone.
  • You’ll save money on repairing your teeth as it’s cheaper to prevent your teeth and gums from going bad rather than to fix an already existing oral problem.
  • You’ll get to appreciate healthier teeth, gums, and a beautiful smile. With no bacteria around to cause diseases, your teeth and gums will remain stronger and healthier for longer.

If you get into the habit of scheduling regular checkups and dental cleanings, you’ll find it much easier to maintain good oral health and prevent all the bad teeth and gum problems.

At-Home Oral Care Tips

While it’s great to visit your dentist’s office for a routine cleaning, it doesn’t mean you should stop caring about your teeth in between those visits. Here are some tips to help you maintain good oral health at home:

  • Brush your teeth for two minutes at least two times per day and if possible, after every meal.
  • Floss regularly to prevent food from getting stuck between the teeth.
  • Rinse your mouth with mouthwash to prevent plaque and stop bacteria from growing and spreading.
  • Gently brush your tongue.
  • Use high-quality toothpaste.
  • Try to avoid sugary foods and drinks.
  • Eat a healthy and balanced diet.
  • If you start feeling discomfort or tooth pain, don’t wait and schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about the dental cleaning procedures or want to book an appointment with one of our dentists and hygienists for a routine checkup.

2023-08-31T09:55:14+01:00
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