Professional Teeth Cleaning FAQs: Insights from a Gladstone Park Dentist
Everybody has their daily dental care routine, and while essential, it may not be enough to ensure that your teeth are thoroughly cleaned. This is where your Gladstone Park dentist comes in. But what exactly can you expect from professional teeth cleaning, and why is it needed? In this article, we’re going to answer these questions and more.
What does professional teeth cleaning consist off?
Routine dental care that you perform at home cannot address the problem of plaque. In addition to that, there may be pockets between the teeth and the gums where bacteria will start to build up. These pockets are very tough to reach with a toothbrush. During a professional dental cleaning procedure, a dentist will address all of these issues using specialized tools. By performing this procedure, the risk of gum disease and tooth decay is greatly lowered.
How often should I visit the dentist for a dental cleaning?
How often you visit the dentist will depend on a variety of factors. For example, people who are not particularly prone to periodontal disease will generally require two visits to the dentist per year. However, if you routinely have gum infections, the procedure likely needs to be performed more often.
What happens during the procedure?
During the procedure, the dentist will use a scaler, which is a tool that removes tartar and plaque from the teeth and around the gums. The scaler will make a particular scraping noise, which is a bit harsher than a brushing sound. However, the procedure is mostly painless.
How do I keep my teeth clean after the visit?
After the visit, you can ensure that your mouth stays clean for a longer period of time by having a proper dental health routine, which includes brushing and flossing when you wake up and before you go to bed. If you add regular brushing and flossing after every meal, even better. This routine will help prevent plaque from forming and turning into tartar over time.
Will the procedure make my teeth whiter?
The procedure may lighten your teeth by one shade or more if the plaque and tartar layers are thick enough. However, your teeth will need to have a lighter natural color to begin with in order for the difference to be noticeable. When it comes to whitening your teeth to a greater degree, there are other procedures that can be performed by the dentist, or you can purchase over-the-counter products that can help you achieve a brighter smile.
What are the benefits of Gladstone Park dental cleaning?
We’ve mentioned that pockets can form between your gums and teeth. Well, these pockets house bacteria that can cause infections, pain, and swelling. When they are clean, however, the risk of dental pain and other issues is greatly reduced. Dental cleanings also remove plaque, which could lead to infections and other undesirable outcomes if left on the teeth.
Regular cleanings also reduce the chance that you’ll need a deep cleaning procedure in the future. During a deep cleaning, the dentist has to go beneath the gum line to remove plaque and bacteria. If the situation is not addressed, the tartar and plaque will continue to build up deeper within the gum line, to the point where you may need more serious interventions such as bone grafting, gum grafting, and even tooth replacement.
Schedule an appointment with a top Gladstone Park Dentist for a Teeth Cleaning
Untreated plaque and tartar can lead to more serious damage to your teeth later on, so it is best to tackle them regularly. If you are ready for a professional teeth cleaning in Gladstone Park, contact our office today to schedule an appointment.