Do You Need Dental Cleaning? Here is How To Go About It
Consistent dental checkup plays an essential role in promoting oral health and the overall wellbeing of an individual. These checkups may include dental cleaning, which is necessary to keep the teeth healthy. A person may decide to visit a dentist twice a year, or more, depending on the type of appointment involved. However, in-between these visits, teeth brushing and flossing are required to keep the teeth, gums, and mouth in a healthy state.
Inasmuch as people keep oral hygiene, they need to see a dental hygienist for an oral examination. This dentist will inspect, detect potential dental problems, and recommend viable treatment options for them. Also, undergoing an X-ray scan once a year is crucial to evaluate the structural state of your teeth and jawbones. What makes dental cleaning important?
One of the pillars of an individual’s overall health is oral hygiene. The mouth shares a connection with the mind and the body. A problem in a person’s mouth may indicate an underlying medical condition that lingers in other body parts; this may include diabetes, heart diseases, and viral infections. Hence, one of the ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle is to keep the mouth healthy at all time, including undergoing dental cleaning.
What Is Dental Cleaning?
Dental cleaning is a pro-quality type of teeth cleaning a dental hygienist performs on an individual’s teeth to eradicate tartar (dental calculus) or plaque. Using special cleaning tools, the dentist can clean the gums and teeth thoroughly, better than other dental techniques like brushing or flossing. However, this teeth-cleaning procedure is done based on appointments. No one loves to wait in a seemingly endless line for teeth cleaning.
Dental Cleaning Appointment – What to Expect
The teeth play a vital role in feeding and communication. Over time, plaque and tartar tend to build up around the teeth and gums, even with brushing and flossing. If not adequately handled, such conditions can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Before then, the body tries to fight back through the immune system. Hence, individuals may experience swollen or bleeding gums. For this reason, it is essential to clean the teeth professionally.
To begin with, set an appointment with a certified dental hygienist. This professional dentist examines the teeth, gum, and mouth to identify signs of inflammation, also known as gingivitis. Additionally, the dentist takes readings to determine the pocket depth and size in-between each tooth and gums, at least once a year. This pocket reading helps to detect the presence of gum disease. In some cases, the patient may undergo an additional X-ray scan.
Once the examination is complete, the dentist uses a powerful electric toothbrush and an abrasive toothpaste to brush the teeth, before flossing.
How to Know Dental Cleaning Works?
During teeth cleaning, the individual hears scraping sounds, which indicates the removal of tartar and plaque. With a scraper and a mouth mirror, the dentist can remove these dental buildups effectively without damaging the teeth or gums. For some, this process may take a while – especially those who don’t have regular dental appointments. Often, scraping comes before brushing and flossing. However, this is not strictly defined, as dentists may choose any particular order.
Once done, the dentist re-assesses the X-ray and evaluates the mouth to determine whether the individual requires additional dental treatment options.
Questions to Ask Before Undergoing Dental Cleaning
It is essential to ask questions during a dental appointment. These questions provide a broad understanding of a person’s oral health status and are not limited to the following areas:
- Signs of gum disease
- Presence of wear and tear
- Areas of the mouth that need immediate attention
- Tips on improved brushing and flossing
- Pocket size and depth
- Cleaning and appointment regularity
Benefits of Dental Cleaning
It is true with doubt that dental hygiene is vital in creating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Most dentists recommend teeth cleaning, at least, twice a year. However, people with more complicated dental problems are to schedule more dental appointments.
Here are some benefits dental cleaning provides:
- Alleviates Bad Breath
Bad breath is mostly associated with poor dental hygiene. It is not just enough to brush and floss the teeth; people should undergo dental cleaning to promote oral health. Fresh breath indicates a healthy mouth.
- Improves Confidence
People with stained teeth resulting from specific food substances and drinks find it challenging to speak or smile in public. Hence, they tend to battle low self-esteem. But with teeth cleaning, these individuals can get rid of these stains and have a set of white, sparkling teeth. It becomes easy for them to interact with others without the need to double-check themselves.
- Prevents Tooth Loss and Cavities
Plaque and tartar buildups cause tooth decay over time, as they erode the tooth enamel gradually and form cavities. Additionally, this condition causes the gum line to loosen up as well, which results in tooth loss. Dental cleaning with consistent brushing and flossing prevents such outcomes.
