What Happens During a Regular Teeth Cleaning?
Having a dental checkup at least once or twice in six months should be everybody’s’ priority. When you visit a dentist, he gets to survey your whole mouth for any cavities or decay, and to clean your teeth hygienically.
Getting your teeth cleaned by a dental hygienist is a great habit alongside you brushing and flossing at least twice a day. You should aim to getting your teeth cleaned by a dentist. It plays a huge role in your overall body health.
There are several steps you should expect to occur when you visit your dentist for your teeth cleaning.
- An initial physical inspection
Once you’ve visited your dental hygienist, the first thing he will do is to physically examine your teeth and gums. He may use a mirror to get a better view of your nooks and crannies. The mirror will clearly show if you have any spots in your teeth, cavities, decay, or gingivitis. If he finds any evidence of you having any teeth disease, he will consult with your dentist and discus the possibilities of a deep teeth cleaning. Before the deep cleaning is done, the dentist may conduct an oral physical exam to check for cancer symptoms in your mouth.
- Removal of Tartar
Using a scaler, your hygienist will remove the tartar and plaque around your gum and teeth. When plaque is not well removed, it causes cavities and gum diseases. The plaque bacteria then redevelops’ into tartar, which requires a dentist to remove.
- Teeth Polishing
After your dentist has removed tartar from your teeth, your hygienist will take a gritty toothpaste and use an electric toothbrush to deep clean your teeth, by removing any remains of the plaque or tartar. The sounds produced during deep polishing of your teeth are loud and maybe a bit scary.
The gritty toothpaste cleans gently by scrubbing your teeth thoroughly leaving them very smooth and shiny.
- Proper flossing
An expert flossing session will make your hygienist locate any gum bleeding or soreness within your mouth. Properly flossing your teeth will certainly remove any leftover toothpaste, and plaque.
- Fluoride application
Once you’ve cleared flossing, you are supposed to rinse your mouth before your hygienist applies a fluoride treatment in your mouth. The fluoride treatment applied in your mouth, is for your protection against cavities till your next appointment.