What a Dental Cleaning Involves?

Ever wondered why dental cleaning is so important? Is dental cleaning required even if your brush and floss your teeth daily? Why do dentists recommend dental cleaning? One of the significant reasons behind dental cleaning is that the dentist gets a chance to examine your teeth and gums so that any dental issue can be diagnosed and treated on time. The appointment will be followed by dental cleaning by dentist or the dental hygienist.

Why You Should Have Your Teeth Cleaned Professionally

Our saliva contains calcium which protects the teeth. Though saliva has useful properties, it can also lead to calcium deposits on the teeth which can be brown, black or tooth-colored. These deposits transform into calculus over the time, which is also known as tartar. Tartar allows the bacteria to grow and infect your gums. The tartar may be invisible to you, but it gave appropriate environment for the bacteria to grow and affect your gums. Thus, it becomes important to visit a dentist for dental cleaning every few months.

What Should a Professional Teeth Cleaning Involve?

The professional cleaning also known as prophylaxis consists of:

• Flossing
• Removing tartar and plaque
• Polishing
• Applying Fluoride

Here’s a Look at the Steps:

• The first step is just like flossing where the ultrasonic instrument is used for removing large pieces of tartar and scalers and curettes are used for removing small pieces of tartar.
• The next step is teeth polishing. It is done with a hand device with rubber tip that spins. The tip will be loaded by prophylaxis paste and it will run on the back and front of the teeth. It will make the teeth smooth and shiny.
• Some dentists may also apply fluoride as tartar weakens the surface of the teeth.

It is advised not to eat or drink for at least 30 to 40 minutes after the fluoride treatment. The dental cleaning may take around 30 to 60 minutes but may take longer depending on the tartar deposit. A dental cleaning is never painful or uncomfortable.