As you step into a brand new year, you want to make sure that you prioritize your oral health. Having a regular dental cleaning near you with our 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 daily is insufficient. 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 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 takes X-rays. Routine checkups help 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 teeth. Make sure to visit the best dentist for your dental care and procedures. These are the following steps of regular dental cleaning at the Newmarket dental office.
1. Physical examination
The cleaning process begins with a physical examination of your mouth. A dental hygienist performs an exam to determine your oral health and condition. They use a small mirror to look around their teeth and gums for 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 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. A hygienist uses toothpaste that has a gritty consistency during professional teeth cleaning. 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 profoundly cleans your teeth to eliminate the particles trapped between your teeth. Dental floss also helps remove the plaque or toothpaste left behind during the previous steps.
4. Rinsing
In the following steps, our dental hygienist will give you a rinse containing liquid fluoride to help you eliminate 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?
Proper brushing and flossing 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. Without 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 yearly 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 proceed with the cleaning.
Scaling and Deep Cleaning
While routine teeth cleaning cleans 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 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 well-being. While you may have strict oral hygiene, complying with regular dental visits and cleanings is equally essential. 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, eventually leading to gingivitis and periodontal or gum disease. The best way to prevent this is to visit your dental office for preventive treatments. Schedule a professional dental cleaning with our Newmarket dentist today and maintain fresh breath and clean and healthy teeth for life.