4 Things to Expect During a Teeth Cleaning
The term “dental cleaning” doesn’t sound that scary, but it’s still very beneficial to know exactly what will happen during the entire procedure. First, you should know that dental cleaning must be done on a regular basis. This expands your teeth’s lifespan and strengthens them.
If you feel uncomfortable or if you are one of those people that just hate going to the dentist, feel free to ask around for more information at your dental clinic, but this procedure isn’t difficult or painful at all.
Here are 4 things to expect during a teeth cleaning:
- Examination of Teeth
Before any kind of cleaning starts, either the dentist or the hygienist will briefly inspect your oral health. If you have damaged teeth, this procedure might hurt a little since they will use a small and sharp tool. This step is a very important one for a receiving a full dental cleaning.
The dentist will look for cavities, inflamed gums, broken bits and any other damage. You might hear questions like “Have you noticed anything wrong?” or “Do your teeth hurt when you drink cold water?”. Answer these questions as correctly as you can since your doctors need to know everything to conduct an adequate examination.
- Removal of Plaque and Tartar
Plaque is a form of bacteria that loves to form around or teeth. If not cleaned, it will eventually turn into tartar and afterwards contribute in creating a cavity. Tartar can also cause gum disease. Removal of plaque and tartar is one of the reasons why dental cleanings are extremely important for our oral health.
The dentist will use a scaler to remove tartar. You will hear scraping and might experience bleeding if your gums are already infected. When it comes to pain, plaque and tartar removal is like a mosquito bite compared to cavity removal. This means that you will experience slight discomforts during the procedure and maybe soreness afterwards.
- Polishing and Flossing
After the plaque and tartar are removed, the chances for you experiencing any kind of pain are little to none. In fact, the next step of the process can be quite lovely. The dentist will use a special and very tasty toothpaste to thoroughly polish your teeth.
With using an electric toothbrush, the dentist will make your teeth shine like never before. After professional polishing comes professional flossing. The dentist will remove any leftover plaque from your teeth. It usually builds up in corners and between teeth.
- Applying Fluoride Treatment
Last, but not least is the fluoride treatment. With inserting a mouthpiece filled with fluoride gel or foam, the dentist ensures that your teeth are protected from future cavities. The mouthpiece will stay inserted a couple of minutes and afterwards will be rinsed with water.
When the entire procedure is over, you will get one more final inspection to determine if there is any plaque or tartar left. The dentist should also give you advice on proper oral care such as flossing techniques, types of toothpaste and toothbrushes.
