If you are looking for an easy way to keep your breath fresh and enjoy a bright, shiny smile, regular dental cleanings are the best solution. Dental cleanings also improve and support the overall health of your body and make you feel better about yourself. Call Broadway Family Dental today and schedule an appointment with Dr. Ella Dekhtyar to find out more about having your teeth cleaned professionally. Dr. Dekhtyar examines your teeth and gums thoroughly and looks for the presence of plaque and tartar to prevent the onset of decay. She also guides you on how often you should have your teeth cleaned by an expert to enjoy healthy, strong teeth for a lifetime.
Professional dental cleaning focuses on preventing tooth decay and gum diseases. Dentists and dental hygienists thoroughly examine, clean, polish, and floss your teeth carefully to remove hardened plaque, tartar, and bacteria and ensure optional oral health and function.
The American Dental Association recommends visiting a dentist regularly for cleaning, depending on the tooth condition, to support good overall dental health. When combined with diligent brushing and flossing at home, dental cleanings help achieve and maintain strong teeth and gums. Even if you feel that your teeth are clean, it is necessary to seek professional help, as the beginning stages of gum disease are often hard to detect.
While some people may need dental cleaning every 6 months or so, others with a higher risk for gum disease may need to visit a dentist more frequently.
Read on to find out more about dental cleaning, what this process involves, and how often you should have your teeth cleaned professionally to ensure optimal oral health.
How Often Should You Have Your Teeth Cleaned?
It usually depends on an individual’s unique oral needs, as every patient is different. People who don’t brush and floss regularly or follow proper oral hygiene may need to go to the dentist more. Cleaning removes bacteria buildup in teeth and gums. If you skip cleaning, it can lead to accumulation of dangerous bacteria in your mouth.
Usually, dentists recommend that it is best to have your teeth and gums cleaned after every 6 months or at least once a year. The dentist gets a chance to inspect your teeth, diagnose any problems and address cavities or gingivitis timely.
Your dentist will determine dental care visit frequency based on your specific risk factors for gum disease and tooth loss.
You may be at a higher risk for gum disease if you:
- Have diabetes or consistently eat a lot of sugar
- Smoke tobacco
- Have a family history of gum disease
If you are not careful and address these problems early, the solutions to fix them can be expensive and time-consuming in the long run, not to forget devastating health consequences that may not be reversed.
Why Dental Cleanings Are Necessary?
Dental cleanings are necessary as they help ensure your teeth and gums are healthy. They are a significant part of the oral care routine as thorough cleaning helps to remove any plaque and tartar buildup that can lead to mouth problems like tooth decay.
In advanced gum disease cases, the bacteria move below the gum line and cause gum irritation and swelling. The space between the gums and teeth also broadens if gum disease is not treated timely and puts you at risk for tooth loss. Frequent dental cleanings eliminate these bacteria, help combat gum disease, and protect your gums. Cleanings can also help to remove any stains on the teeth, giving you a chance to smile more and better.
Dental cleaning is necessary for the following reasons:
- Tooth loss –Failing to get your teeth cleaned can result in tooth loss in the long run and lead to expensive treatments, including crowns, dentures, and implants. You can prevent tooth loss with regular dental cleaning.
- Tooth decay – If toothache and pain are not addressed timely, it can lead to tooth decay. You will notice holes in the teeth with sensitivity to heat and cold. Visiting your dentist for dental cleaning can prevent tooth decay.
- Toothache – The main reason behind a cavity in any tooth is bacteria. With proper care and regular dental cleanings, you can treat the cause and keep cavities away.
Visiting the dentist twice a year for dental cleaning can help you learn more about oral hygiene and save yourself from various dental and oral care issues in the long run. Also, there is a strong connection between your oral health and overall well-being. If your teeth and gums are not in good health, it can lead to health issues and complications like heart disease and diabetes.
What Happens During a Dental Cleaning Process?
The dental cleaning procedure may vary from person to person, but there are certain basic steps to each cleaning visit.
They include:
Cleaning
Also called scaling, this step removes plaque and tartar from your teeth. The dental or oral hygienist will clean even the most difficult-to-reach areas of your mouth with the help of specialized tools to scrape off stubborn plaque.
They will also clean the spaces between your teeth using a special flossing technique that uses water, abrasive powders, and pressurized air to get rid of plaque, soft debris, and stains. At the end of this step, they will rinse and wash your mouth with water.
Polishing
Once the teeth are clean, they are polished to ensure they look as good as possible. The dentist uses a rotating head with a dental paste, which makes your teeth squeaky clean.
Fluoride treatment
In some cases, dentists apply a fluoride treatment to teeth to prevent cavities. This treatment can be a paste, gel, or varnish.
If you have sensitive teeth, a light numbing agent can be applied to your teeth and gums before the cleaning begins. At the end of the cleaning process, the dentist will also guide you about proper dental hygiene and recommend the best products to keep your teeth clean and healthy at home. Remember, even if you have seemingly strong and healthy teeth, regular dental cleaning is still necessary.
If you have not visited a dentist for professional dental cleaning within the past year and want to know how dental cleaning can benefit you, call Broadway Family Dental today and get an appointment. Getting your teeth cleaned regularly is one of the most important things you need to focus on to support overall dental health. Dr. Ella Dekhtyar uses the most advanced dental tools and cleaning equipment to get rid of debris, plaque, tartar, and biofilm, that cannot be removed with brushing and flossing alone. She also provides the best advice on what to do between dental cleanings to experience a healthy mouth and keep the bad bacteria at bay.
Broadway Family Dental
1152 Broadway
Brooklyn, NY 11221
(Bushwick, Williamsburg, Bedford-Stuyvesant)
(718) 455-4400