Regular visitors to West Bowmanville family Dental will know we have a great team dedicated to helping patients maintain excellent oral hygiene, and we highly recommend having your teeth cleaned professionally in Newcastle. However, not everyone has had their teeth cleaned before and might be interested in what’s involved and what to expect.
What to Expect When You Have Your Teeth Cleaned?
There are several steps during a professional dental cleaning. Firstly we will need to thoroughly examine your teeth to check their condition and your general dental health, and we will ask if they have been any changes to your overall health. It’s important to tell us about these changes because they could affect the treatment provided.
Our hygienist may well take using a special instrument called a periodontal probe. The probe measures the space between your gums and teeth and provides a good snapshot of your gum health. When your gums are strong and healthy, there is a depth of no more than 3 mm. These measurements are retaken and checked at each visit so we can quickly assess any changes to your gums and provide appropriate treatment promptly.
The next stage is to thoroughly clean all plaque and tartar or calculus buildup from your teeth. This can be achieved using a combination of hand tools and special ultrasonic tools to loosen tartar. Removing tartar buildup is essential because it contains harmful bacteria that can otherwise cause dental disease. Getting rid of tartar helps to reduce your risk of developing common oral problems like gum disease and tooth decay in Clarington. Next, your teeth are carefully polished using a special polishing paste. This helps create a nice smooth surface, making it harder for the bacteria in plaque and tartar to adhere to your teeth. At the same time, the process helps remove some surface stains, so afterwards, your teeth feel super smooth and look shinier than before. Finally, we floss between your teeth to check your mouth is thoroughly clean and get you to rinse your mouth to remove any remaining residues.
How Frequently Should I Have My Teeth Cleaned?
As a rule of thumb, most people benefit from having their teeth cleaned professionally every six months, often at the same time as their regular dental checkup. It’s an easy routine that ensures you only need to spend a couple of hours completing professional preventive dental care plans annually. However, some people may need to see a dental hygienist in Courtice more frequently. This could be the case if you have any medical conditions that affect your oral health or dental issues requiring closer monitoring, such as gum disease.
Sometimes women can benefit from more frequent dental cleanings during pregnancy, especially if they develop a condition called pregnancy gingivitis. Pregnancy gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease caused by increased sensitivity to the plaque bacteria that cause this condition. Removing plaque and tartar more frequently from teeth helps control pregnancy gingivitis, so teeth and gums remain healthy during pregnancy. Once the baby arrives, pregnancy gingivitis will usually clear up on its own.
Is It Worth Having My Teeth Cleaned?
Perhaps you’re wondering if you need to have your teeth cleaned professionally, especially if you generally take care of your dental health and don’t seem to have any problems. The answer is definitely yes! Even people who take tremendous care when brushing and flossing their teeth will miss certain areas. Ensuring your teeth are thoroughly cleaned every six months is an easy and cost-effective way to look after your dental health.