Brushing your teeth, flossing daily, and regularly visiting the dentist in Madison, AL, is crucial to protect your smile. Even with the best oral hygiene habits, plaque can accumulate in hard-to-reach areas like under the gumline, where only a professional with the right tools and a subtle touch can safely clean.
Moreover, cleanings leave your teeth fresh and bright, allowing you to smile confidently. We created this guide to help you understand how important this treatment is and what to expect.
What is a Professional Dental Cleaning?
Dental cleaning is a professional procedure that removes plaque, tartar, and stains from the teeth. During this appointment, hygienists use specialized equipment to clean areas that are inaccessible with brushing and flossing alone. This helps prevent cavities, gum disease, and bad breath.
Frequent cleaning lets dentists identify problems early, saving you money and time on subsequent procedures.
According to ADA-supported studies, gum disease begins when plaque builds up along the gumline. By visiting the dentist and getting cleanings every six months, you can prevent these damaging conditions and protect the health of your smile.
What Does a Professional Dental Cleaning Entail?
1. A Physical Exam
A dentist or a dental hygienist can perform dental cleanings. We will examine your entire mouth before we start, using a tiny mirror to look for any indications of cavities, gingivitis (inflamed gums), or other possible issues around your teeth and gums.
If we detect any major problems, we may also suggest alternative treatments to target them.
2. Removing Plaque and Tartar
The dental hygienist removes plaque and tartar between your teeth and around your gumline using a scaler guided by a tiny mirror. You'll hear scraping, but this is normal. The more tartar in your mouth, the longer it will take them to scrape a certain area.
Brushing and flossing can remove plaque, but once it hardens into tartar, it can only be removed at your dentist's office. So, if this is your least favorite part of the teeth-cleaning procedure, you’ll want to brush and floss more frequently!
3. Gritty Toothpaste Cleaning
Once your teeth have been cleaned of tartar, the hygienist will brush them with a high-powered electric brush that makes a grinding sound. While it may sound scary, it is an excellent way to thoroughly clean and remove any tartar left behind by the scaler.
Professional cleanings use gritty toothpaste, which allows us to scrub your teeth gently. Dental professionals can safely polish teeth twice a year. Just remember to be gentle with daily cleaning at home to avoid enamel wear.
4. Rinsing
Next, you rinse your mouth to remove any debris. Your dental hygienist will usually give you a rinse with liquid fluoride.
5. Applying Fluoride Treatment
The final step in the cleaning process is fluoride treatment. This treatment protects your teeth from cavities for several months. Your dental hygienist will then place the foamy gel (or sticky paste) in a mouthpiece that fits over your teeth. Usually, you leave it on your teeth for a minute.
In addition to the foamy gel, a tiny brush is used to apply fluoride varnish to the teeth. When saliva comes into contact with fluoride varnish, it solidifies, allowing you to eat and drink immediately.
Protect Your Smile With a Dentist in Madison, AL
Semiannual dental cleanings are more than just a way to keep your smile looking good; they are also an important preventive strategy for long-term oral and overall health. Skipping these appointments can cause minor issues to worsen into major health and financial problems, potentially impacting your quality of life.
Visiting Wilson Family Dental is key to preventing these concerns. Contact us today if you're due for a dental cleaning!
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