Did you know that partly due to a lack of proper teeth cleaning, pharynx cancer and oral cancer accounted for 2.9% of all new cancer occurrences in America in 2017? This equated to 49,670 people. Furthermore, around 1.1% of the population is predicted to develop oral cavity and pharynx cancer. Oral hygiene is an essential detail of overall health and wellness.
To keep an exceptional level of oral health, it is necessary for you to continually focus on these essential items:
- Daily brushing: It is suggested that you clean your teeth twice a day. When you brush your teeth in the morning, you eliminate the bacteria that breed overnight while you sleep. Brushing at night just before going to bed is essential because saliva production and flow are low during this time. A decline in saliva leaves your teeth open to attack from tooth decay. Brushing your teeth aids in bolstering your oral hygiene and protects from potential tooth decay.
- Best brushing technique: Brushing your teeth with the proper method is also essential. Dentists favor circular motions for two or three minutes. It goes without stating you should only use toothpaste that contains fluoride when brushing your teeth.
- Fluoride content: Each distinct age group needs different amounts of fluoride in their toothpaste. For ages three years and below, utilize toothpaste whose fluoride levels are 1,000 parts per million (ppm). Anyone older than three is recommended to use 1,300 to 1,500 parts per million in their toothpaste.
- Toothbrush Type: Make sure you use toothbrushes with firm, not hard bristles. Replace the brush every three months.
- Best Times to Brush: Brushing your teeth after each meal is just as critical a factor in maintaining your oral hygiene. Each time you eat a meal, your mouth needs approximately forty minutes to completely neutralize any acids. During this stage, your teeth enamel is more vulnerable. When you brush your teeth before the complete neutralization of acids in the mouth, you have a high risk of brushing away a portion of this soft enamel. Dentists suggest a waiting time of one hour after each meal before brushing your teeth.
- Proper Flossing: Flossing your teeth routinely is another vital aspect of home dental hygienics. Move the floss through your teeth, going from side-to-side. Doing this will aid in eliminating food particles that are caught between the teeth where a toothbrush isn’t able to reach. If left to sit, these food particles will cause tooth decay.
- Visiting Your Dentist Regularly: It is essential to visit your dentist at least every six months for your oral exam. Consistent check-ups will help to identify and address more complicated dental predicaments that brushing and flossing alone cannot. Daily brushing and flossing can’t help you monitor the collection at the subgingival area, for example.
Professional Teeth Cleaning
Regular visits to your dentist can result in getting professional teeth cleaning. But why is this necessary?
- Professional Teeth Cleaning Prevents Major Dental Problems
- A primary benefit of professional teeth cleaning is its ability to assist in preventing major dental problems. When your dentist routinely looks into your oral well-being, you able to catch oral health issues early and address them.
- Professional Teeth Cleaning Helps Observe Overall Body Health
- Certain medical conditions are linked to your oral health. Their symptoms are, at times, initially evidenced by your dental health before the rest of the body presents them. Such terms can include leukemia, diabetes, certain infections, cardiovascular diseases, and even strokes. Regular visits to your dentist and teeth cleaning help to notice such situations in the early stages.
What to Expect During Teeth Cleaning
For many people, the process of teeth cleaning is shrouded in mystique and evokes uncomfortable emotions. Knowing exactly what happens during such a process helps to allay such fears and promote better dental hygiene.
1) Oral Examination
- The first step the dentist takes is to inspect the current state of your mouth visually. Using a mirror, they assess your mouth to see if any issues of concern are present. Some signs the dentist will look for to ascertain the presence of any dental problems will include:
- Patches, lumps, or sores: The presence of any of these symptoms might indicate a possibility of oral cancer. The dentist will pulsate them to assess any degree of tenderness.
- Cavities: The first and most common issue most dentists look for is any tooth cavity. Soft areas in teeth (identified using a type of probe) is the classic indicator of a possible cavity.
- Visual pointers of bite problems: Any problems with your jaw or your bite manifest themselves in specific physical indicators. The dentist will look for any sign of damage from grinding your teeth. They will also test to ascertain if the pattern of your bite aligns correctly.
- Poor gum spacing: Another common issue the dentist will look for is gum disease. The space between your teeth and gum shows whether there might be periodontal disease present or not.
2) Scaling
- Plaque forms in your mouth and brushing and flossing regularly help to eliminate it. When present, plaque sits for a long time, it hardens and forms tartar. The latter is only removable by teeth cleaning through scaling.
- The dentist will use a scaler to scrape tartar off. When a manual scaler is used, you may hear sounds indicating scraping, but that should not alarm you. The dentist can also opt to use an electronic type called an ultrasound scaler. It creates soft vibrations that cause tartar to break up. Water then washes it off.
3) Scrubbing and Polishing
- After scaling removes the tartar, the dentist will use a powerful electric brush and abrasive toothpaste to smooth out your teeth, eliminate any lingering tartar, and remove minor enamel stains as well. Smooth teeth attract fewer oral bacteria and less plaque. Note that abrasive polishing isn’t recommended for daily home use as you will wear the enamel out.
4) Fluoride Treatment
- The dentist, most times, will finish off with a fluoride treatment. It will help combat bacteria for several months of post-cleaning. They will put a mouthpiece filled with fluoride gel or paste on your teeth for 60 seconds. Alternatively, they can paint fluoride varnish over your teeth, which will become hard when it reacts to saliva.
Affordable Teeth Cleaning at a Dentist Near Me
Regular teeth cleaning is vital for good oral hygiene. Brushing your teeth and flossing at home, combined with professional teeth cleaning to remove bacteria and tartar. Routine appointments at the dentist are crucial in the prevention of dental issues. ToothHQ also offers financing and payment plans to help keep your dental appointments affordable.