Oral hygiene is essential for many reasons. Despite brushing and flossing your teeth after meals, other germs can still amalgamate on your tongues and tissues – they can even build up on your toothbrush itself.
But what should you do if that happens? What if cavities are beginning to form? What if your gums start bleeding? In all these scenarios, you need to visit a dentist near you to undergo a dental cleaning. Regularly scheduled cleaning appointments can help prevent these issues from developing.
If you have any queries or concerns, get in touch with us at Northern Dental Centre.
What Exactly is a Dental Cleaning?
Dental cleaning, or dental prophylaxis, is a process that’s done to encourage long term maintenance of your smile. By removing plaque, tartar (hardened plaque), and other debris from the gums and teeth, your chances of developing an infection or gum disease, amongst other conditions, significantly decreases.
A standard cleaning process involves the following steps:
- Examination – Your dentist will thoroughly assess your teeth, gums, tongue, and other oral tissues for signs of decay or disease. Typically, they will also take a few x-rays to see how healthy the roots of your teeth and your jawbone are.
- Scaling – This is the first step of the cleaning process, and is done by a dental hygienist. Using a small instrument known as a scaler, they’ll scrape away any buildup of debris from the surface of, and between your teeth.
- Polishing – A special gritty toothpaste is used to scrub your teeth to a beautiful shine, eliminating stains acquired from various foods and drinks.
- Flossing – Your hygienist will also floss for you; this is done to remove any debris that wasn’t removed during the scaling.
- Fluoride – You’ll be able to rinse your mouth out with water before the fluoride is applied. The substance sits on your teeth for 1 minute; then you can spit and rinse one last time.
How Long Does A Dental Cleaning Take?
In reality, the time of the dental cleaning process differs from person to person. This is because multiple factors may be at play, such as the patient’s current oral health status, the degree of buildup on their smile, and other existing dental problems. With that said, the average length of a routine dental checkup and cleaning is approximately an hour to an hour and a half.
How Often Should You Get a Dental Cleaning?
You should be coming in to receive dental cleanings near you every 6 months or so. Doing so will allow your dentist in Grande Prairie to detect problems early, which increases the effectiveness of the treatment. However, if an individual is dealing with a severe condition like periodontitis or oral cancer, their dentist will most likely have them come in for an evaluation every 3-4 months.
For instance, an individual with a history of tobacco use and smoking might have to take up frequent dental cleaning sessions. Similarly, an individual with excessive tartar buildup and plaque might have to visit a dentist every three or four months.
Why are Dental Cleanings Important?
Dental cleanings are crucial for several reasons, such as the ones described in detail below:
1. Plaque and Tartar Removal
Plaque is a dense layer of bacteria that develops despite regular brushing. With time, plaque converts into hard tartar, usually gathering in oral places your toothbrush can’t reach easily. As plaque and tartar do not disappear with home remedies, you need frequent dental cleanings in Grande Prairie to maintain your smile.
2. Fewer Cavities
Plaque comes into contact with sugars and carbohydrates in the body and transforms into bacteria. These harmful bacteria produce toxic acids that lead to tooth enamel eroding. And once your tooth’s enamel starts fading away, the cavities come in quickly. Regular dental cleanings can help prevent cavities from happening.
3. Gum Disease Prevention
Because of unhygienic oral conditions, you might get a tampered gumline in no time. Gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis could take over your beautiful smile. And if you leave gum disease untreated, you might develop gum mobility, recession, or even loss. Periodic dental cleanings help eliminate irritants that cause gum disease and ensure overall oral health.
4. Fresh Breath
Tartar and plaque are at the core of most dental problems. Having said that, bad bacteria in the tartar and plaque produce foul-smelling gasses in the mouth. It, in turn, leads to disturbing breath generation. We recommend repeatedly taking dental cleaning slots to avoid making someone uncomfortable with your breath.
Visit Our Local Dental Practice
Consistent dental cleanings help you avoid, not only dental issues, but problems that impact your general health and wellness. A timely visit to your dentist can help your smile shine for months.
Do you need to arrange your next dental appointment? Email or phone us today! We look forward to working with you soon!