About Professional Teeth Cleaning
Professional teeth cleaning is something you must have annually. While teeth cleaning surely brightens and maintains your neat smile, it also benefits your overall health. The lack of proper oral hygiene may lead to various illnesses, including but not limited to bone loss, cardiovascular disease, strokes, and cancer. Brushing your teeth and flossing daily can only do so much compared to having your teeth thoroughly and professionally cleaned by a dental hygienist. Aside from that, your dentist will also be able to check your oral health frequently if you visit regularly.
At Burnaby Square Dental, we provide you with high-quality dental care service that is cost-efficient, safe, and hygienic. Our office is easy to reach and is open for extended hours to accommodate each patient. We offer a wide range of dental services, from primary protective dental care and general dentistry to specialized procedures and full dental restorations.
What is Teeth Cleaning?
Teeth cleaning is the procedure of removing built-up plaque and tartar deposits on the teeth to avoid dental health issues. This dental procedure is commonly done together with a dental exam on your periodic dental appointments. During a dental exam, your dentist will check for any indication of health problems in your mouth. If the dentist finds a problem, they may further examine with a dental X-ray.
Why Do You Need to Get Your Teeth Cleaned?
Teeth cleaning can remove any build-up of plaque and calculus or tartar, which we are unable to clean even with daily brushing. The soft, yellowish build-up in our mouths comprises countless bacteria that reside and propagate inside our mouth. Although there are harmless bacteria, there are types that live in plaque that can lead to cavities or gum disease. By removing the plaque and calculus through dental teeth cleaning, it will significantly prevent your teeth and gums from getting damaged.
How Often Should You Have Your Teeth Cleaned?
Teeth cleaning is done depending on how you maintain your oral health daily and how often you visit your dentist. Standard cleaning that is done twice a year is meant as a minor and regular procedure. On the other hand, a deep cleaning is done for those who do not get routine teeth cleaning and have missed many appointments, leading to more oral health issues.
How Teeth Cleaning Works
Step 1: Physical Exam
The mouth will be examined by a dentist first before the teeth cleaning starts. They use small mirrors to examine the teeth and gums for signs of gingivitis or inflamed gums, and other possible issues. Usually, a dental hygienist performs the main procedure after the dentist has done their initial check up, and will only be called if a vital point is discerned in order to ensure the safety of the procedure.
The mouth will be examined by a dentist first before the teeth cleaning starts. They use small mirrors to examine the teeth and gums for signs of gingivitis or inflamed gums, and other possible issues. Usually, a dental hygienist performs the main procedure after the dentist has done their initial check up, and will only be called if a vital point is discerned in order to ensure the safety of the procedure.
Step 2: Scaling
Scaler, a small hooked equipment, is used by the hygienist to eliminate plaques and tartars surfacing the teeth near the gum line and between the teeth. There are two types of scalers: A manual scaler which feels like the teeth are being scraped, and an ultrasonic scaler, which makes use of gentle vibration and uses water to remove more significant accumulations. A manual or ultrasonic scaler is used depending on the amount of expansion.
Step 3: Polishing and Flossing
The hygienist uses handheld electric equipment with a rubber prophy cup and a prophylaxis paste to remove stains. During the procedure, patients may feel a slow rubbing movement on the teeth. After that, a floss will be used to rid the teeth of any plaque and paste.
Step 4: Applying Fluoride Treatment
Finally, a fluoride treatment will ensue, which can protect the teeth against cavities for several months. The hygienist may ask for your preferred flavor when they place the foamy gel (sometimes stick paste) on a mouthpiece that fits over the teeth. It is usually left there for 1 minute. After applying the gel, a fluoride varnish-which hardens at contact with saliva- will follow. It is painted on the teeth using a small brush so that you can immediately eat and drink right after the procedure.
Benefits of Teeth Cleanings
Prevent Plaque Build Up
Plaque is an unwanted accumulation of bacteria that stick to your teeth. However, the build-up of plaque can be avoided by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once every day. Unfortunately, once it has built up in your mouth, it cannot be removed by simply brushing and flossing your teeth. It can result in tartar, causing teeth discoloration. To address this problem, the best solution is to avail of a professional teeth cleaning at least every six months.
Help Prevent Tooth Loss
One of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults is gum disease caused by built-up plaque on the teeth. Over time, the plaque will infect nearby teeth and gum lines further. This condition can significantly damage the jawbone, causing the teeth to become loose and eventually fall out. Fortunately, this risk may be substantially prevented with regular dental cleanings and proper oral hygiene habits.
Prevent Gum Disease
Cardiovascular disease and gum disease are highly associated with poor oral hygiene. Having a dental cleaning twice a year lowers the chance of getting gum disease, and along with it, the risks of having heart attacks and strokes.
Protect Yourself from Tooth Decay
Tooth loss caused by decay is inconvenient in a variety of ways. It is both painful and embarrassing to experience it firsthand because it results in an unsightly and unhealthy-looking smile. It’s also expensive in the long run because treating it would necessitate dental implants or other forms of replacement. Although tooth decay does not occur immediately, it is still necessary to monitor it on a regular basis in order to avoid it. Visit us at Burnaby Square Dental for a dental cleaning. Our dentists will surely be able to assist you in identifying any oral problems that are causing tooth decay.
Brightens Your Smile
The build-up in your teeth from smoking tobacco and drinking wine, coffee, and soda can cause unsightly stains. To get a clean and brighter set of teeth, a dental cleaning is the most efficient solution.
Freshens Your Breath
With a professional dental cleaning, not only will you achieve healthier and brighter teeth, you will also be able to maintain fresh breath.
Boosts Your Overall Health
Dental cleanings do more than maintain your oral health condition, it also protects your overall health. The procedure can significantly prevent many debilitating illnesses such as heart disease and stroke. Regular dental exams can also help your dentist identify early-stage medical conditions you may have, and have them treated sooner.
Helps You Save Money
Getting regular dental cleanings will save you more money in the long run than not getting them at all. It is because the lack of professional maintenance may lead to further oral problems requiring more expensive and invasive dental treatments. Dental cleaning is only done twice a year. Hence, consider having them to prevent health problems.
Why Choose Burnaby Square Dental
Exceptional Training and Quality of Equipment
Burnaby Square Dental is composed of well-trained and skilled dental health professionals who are updated with the latest dental lectures, meetings, and conventions. We continually use new techniques, products, materials, and equipment to provide you with the best service and dental care experience.
Value and Satisfaction
We strive to build strong relationships with our patients because we value their patronage. In return, we give our full and undivided attention to everyone that comes in our office to ensure that their individual needs are discussed and determined. At Burnaby Square Dental, we are well-equipped with the latest technology to give you the best service possible. Call us today at (604) 526-2725 and make an appointment!
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually, the teeth cleaning process takes about 30 minutes to an hour, although it depends on the patient’s teeth. More time for teeth cleaning is needed if there are more plaque and tartar present.
It is advisable to get professional teeth cleaning for more exemplary oral health. Teeth cleaning gets rid of plaque and tartar accumulation and avoids future dental problems such as cavities and gum disease — crucial to oral health as it also affects the overall health.
It is advisable to visit dentists or hygienists to eliminate the tartar residing between the teeth to avoid future health problems.
A mild discomfort for a day or two is to be expected after a deep cleaning. Teeth sensitivity that could last for a week, as well as swollen (sometimes bleeding) gums are also quite common. Your dentist may prescribe you to take antibiotics, or may simply tell you to use mouth rinse to avoid infection, reduce pain, and hasten the healing process.
You must continue brushing and flossing even if the teeth are tender after being cleansed. This is advised to keep the effect of the work done by your dentist.
Dental cleaning usually brightens the shade of the teeth slightly. However, if you’re planning to have a teeth whitening procedure and you’re wondering whether you should have your teeth cleaned before the teeth whitening procedure, the answer is yes. Whitening treatments work better on clean teeth.
Regular cleansing, which centers at and above the gumline, polishes the teeth. However, it might interfere with the bacteria colonies and release them into the bloodstream to the rest of the body. Deep cleaning gets rid of the said colonies of bacteria.
Neglecting proper oral care by not seeing your dentist regularly increases your risk of getting teeth and gum disease and illnesses in other body parts such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and breast cancer.
If you receive fluoride for the protective measures, you must wait for at least 30 minutes before consuming any food or drink. For example, avoid having any snacks, sodas, sweet tea, coffee, and the like.
While it’s not harmful to start eating after teeth cleaning, you might not have the appetite anyway. You may begin to feel increased sensitivity from your teeth. Foods that are sticky, spicy, citrusy, cold, or crunchy must be avoided.