Daily brushing and flossing are essential to keeping teeth clean and healthy, but to maintain optimal oral health it’s wise to visit your dentist regularly for a check-up and cleaning. Your toothbrush cannot remove all the plaque and tartar from the surface of your teeth. Only a hygienist has the tools, knowledge and experience to properly remove plaque and tartar build-up. At Vitality Oral Health, we offer preventive hygiene services to help keep your teeth beautiful and healthy.
Teeth cleaning is a crucial part of oral hygiene involving the removal of dental plaque from teeth. It’s intended to prevent tooth decay, cavities, gingivitis (gum disease), and periodontal disease. For most, teeth cleaning is a simple and painless procedure.
What is plaque and why does it build up?
When you eat or drink foods they react with the bacteria in your mouth, turning into acid. This acid wears away at your enamel, causing plaque to form. Plaque is a sticky substance made from leftover food particles and saliva that mix in your mouth. The longer you leave food particles in your mouth, the more likely plaque will form.
Dental Cleaning Procedure
A cleaning begins with a physical exam of your entire mouth. Then, the dental hygienist uses a scaler (a small tool) to remove plaque and tartar around your gum line and between your teeth. When your teeth are completely tartar-free, the hygienist brushes them with a high-powered electric brush. She then flosses deep between your teeth, locating any potential trouble spots and removing plaque or toothpaste left from the cleaning process. You’re then given a liquid containing fluoride to rinse out your mouth.
Benefits
Benefits of regular teeth cleaning
- Brightens your smile: A dental cleaning removes built-up stains caused by some foods and drinks.
- Reduces bad breath: Getting a dental cleaning treatment gives you a healthier mouth and fresher breath.
- Prevents cavities: Plaque build-up causes tooth decay. Dental cleaning helps remove plaque build-up, helping prevent cavities.
- Boosts overall health: Keeping your teeth clean and healthy reduces your risk for diabetes and heart disease. Some medical conditions can be detected during a dental cleaning.
Routine cleanings are the best way to prevent dental problems (cavities, stains, gum disease) caused by poor oral hygiene. As part of your oral hygiene regime, visit Vitality Oral Health every 6 months to have your mouth checked and cleaned. Let us help you maintain dental and oral health. We’ll keep your smile shining!