How Often Should You Go for Dental Cleaning

Ah, the dreaded dentist visit. A yearly visit where we sit in the dentist’s chair as we face our dentist as they remove our cavities and plaque. People often link going to the dentist with discomfort. But this is usually because of the buildup of cavities and plaque in our mouths. If we could reduce or prevent this altogether then we wouldn’t be in such discomfort. You may ask, “How often should you go to the dentist?”. Let’s take a look.

Are we really doing enough to take care of our oral health? If not, then how often should we really be going to the dentist? And is there any way to keep our teeth healthy so that we have fewer chances of cavities and gum disease? 

What Happens at a Dental Cleaning? 

Your dentist will perform a variety of procedures during your dental cleaning. They may also use some dental products in order to protect and prevent your teeth from suffering further damage. They may also use dental products such as SelenBio Dental sealant and Primer for cleaning and protecting the teeth. 

Here is a breakdown of what will happen if you ever go for a dental cleaning: 

Physical Exam 

Your dentist’s visit will often start off with a physical examination of your oral cavity. Your dentist will use a tiny mirror to check your teeth for stains, cavities, plaque, and tartar. They will also assess if your gums are healthy. 

If they see that you have further damage, they may recommend additional procedures apart from your dental cleaning. 

Plaque and Tartar Removal 

Your dentist will then use a dental scaler to remove the plaque and tartar that he has located during your physical exam. To make this process more precise, they might apply a dental disclosing solution beforehand, which highlights plaque buildup areas, ensuring that no spots are missed. You may hear some scraping happening during this part as a dental scaler needs to scrape the plaque and tartar off your teeth to remove them.

Toothpaste Cleaning 

A high-powered electric toothbrush is then used to brush your teeth once plaque has been removed. The toothpaste that dentists use during this part has a grittier texture compared to normal toothpaste. This helps gently scrub off the remaining tartar and deeply clean your teeth. 

During this part, you may hear a loud grinding sound. Do not be afraid as this is just the motor of the electric toothbrush and this is not painful.

Dentist Flossing 

After your toothpaste cleaning, your dentist will then professionally floss your teeth. This is similar to flossing at home, however, your dentist will be able to do it properly. They can also identify which parts of your gums may have problems. 

Take this chance to ask your dentist how to properly floss your teeth, if you do not know how to. 

Rinsing 

You will then be given water and in some instances, water with additional mouthwash to rinse out the remaining toothpaste and debris from the procedure. 

Fluoride Treatment 

After rinsing, your dentist will then coat your teeth with a sticky paste. This is a fluoride treatment to help strengthen your teeth. This is usually the end of your dental cleaning. 

So, how often should you go to the dentist? Dentists recommend that you get dental cleanings every six months. If you are being treated for gum disease, you may need to visit your dentist more frequently. People who are at risk for gum disease are people with diabetes, people who smoke tobacco, and those who have a family history of gum disease. 

What Could Happen if We Don’t Take Care of Our Oral Health? 

If we do not take care of our oral health, bad bacteria will accumulate in our mouths. Bacteria break down your teeth and turn them into oral cavities.  This can often lead to a root canal or a complete tooth replacement. These are painful procedures that you should not look forward to. 

You can also develop gingivitis which can lead to gum disease. This causes red inflamed gums that can bleed as well. If left untreated, your gums may recede and fail to hold your teeth in place. There is a chance of your teeth falling out and the bones in your mouth becoming weaker.  

What Should We Do to Keep Our Teeth and Gums Healthy? 

Our oral health contributes a great factor to our overall well-being. If we want to be truly healthy, we must not fail to keep good oral hygiene practices. Here are the regular things that we should be doing to keep our teeth and gums healthy: 

Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day 

Brush your teeth twice a day. It is recommended that you brush them for at least two minutes per brushing. 

Floss Once a Day 

Floss at the end of the day to ensure that all food and debris stuck in between your teeth are removed before going to bed. Make sure you are flossing properly, and ask your dentist about the proper way of doing so. It would be better if you floss after you eat as well. 

Don’t Forget Your Tongue 

You can brush or use a tongue scraper to remove the dirt on your tongue. Your tongue is a breeding ground for bacteria and even if your brush your teeth, a lot of bacteria are still on your tongue! Brushing or scraping your tongue also prevents bad breath. 

Avoid Smoking and Tobacco 

Smoking and the use of tobacco products are the main culprits of gum disease and oral cancer. If you are using these kinds of products, it is best to quit as these do not provide anything to your health. 

Conclusion 

Our oral health plays a part in our overall body health. Even if the dentist may seem scary and visits give you some discomfort, we should still attend it every 6 months. Not doing so may cause worse problems for our oral and body health. However, we should not only rely on our dentist’s care but our own as well. 

Good oral hygiene habits such as regular brushing and flossing can be a big help in keeping our teeth clean. These only take a few minutes of our time but can spare us a lot of pain and money in the long run. So don’t forget to brush and floss! Stay healthy! 

If you’re currently looking for a reliable dentist who can clean your teeth, you can check out this one that does veneers, dental implants, and good-quality teeth whitening in Cleveland.

Photo by Caroline LM on Unsplash