A dental cleaning is a regular part of your routine dental appointments. On the surface, dental cleanings may seem like more of an inconvenience than a necessity. However, dental cleanings are essential to your oral health. In addition, it gives your dental team the opportunity to improve your oral and overall health.
What Happens During Your Cleaning?
The first step to your dental cleaning starts before your hygienist picks up an instrument. In fact, they will take x-rays of your teeth and mouth. This is so your dental team can get a full picture of your oral health. A physical exam can only go so far. Therefore, x-rays can help your dentist see any issues developing below the surface of your teeth and gums.
Next, your dental hygienist will use a scaler and mirror to remove plaque from your teeth. The scaler is a metal instrument with a pointed end, which helps get into tight spaces. Removing plaque is the most important goal of a dental cleaning. This is because plaque is a type of harmful bacteria that can destroy your teeth and gums.
After scraping your teeth, your hygienist will floss your teeth. Dental hygienists are professionals, which means they are experts in cleaning your teeth. However, even if you floss, your hygienist may still be able to remove more plaque from your teeth.
Then, they will move to the polish. Using a high-powered brush, your hygienist will remove any remaining plaque from your teeth and gums. With the brush, they will also use a type of gritty toothpaste. This is helpful for removing plaque and surface stains. As a result, you may find that your teeth are whiter after a dental cleaning.
Finally, they will move to a special rinse, and your dentist will check your teeth.
Reduce Gum Disease and Tooth Decay
Because of this thorough procedure and exam, you can avoid several major dental issues. Removing plaque from your teeth and gums reduces your chances of developing tooth decay and gum disease. Plaque is the main contributor to these dental diseases and infections. Therefore, your dental cleanings can help reduce your chances of developing a severe dental issue.
Additionally, your dental hygienist will notice if you have any problem areas with your teeth. If you need to pay more attention to the backs of your teeth or floss better in one area, they can pass along this information to you. This will help your everyday routine, minimizing your chances of getting gum disease.
Prevent Significant Dental Issues
Because your dental team takes x-rays, they can see a better picture of your oral health. There are issues that may not be seen in a physical examination. Conversely, you may have a high pain tolerance and not realize how bad an issue is until your dentist examines your teeth or does an x-ray.
This can also identify issues that may develop later on. For example, if you have a wisdom tooth that isn’t coming in properly, your dentist will be able to see this and give you recommendations before you get an abscessed tooth.