How Often Should Your Teeth Be Cleaned?

 

Let’s face it, there’s clean and then there’s clean. With your best effort, you’ll be able to get most plaque off most of the surfaces of your teeth and gums that you can see and reach. That’s why brushing twice a day and flossing daily is such an important part of your oral hygiene routine.

But the surfaces you can’t see and reach — and those little bits of plaque and collections of harmful bacteria that you miss — will eventually produce tartar (sometimes called calculus) that you can’t remove on your own and that will fuel tooth decay — an infection that will gradually destroy your teeth. Every day that you eat and drink and repeat the bacterial activity in your mouth between dental appointments is a day when those processes continue. Professional dental exams and teeth cleaning near you reset your teeth to their ideal stage and give you the best chance to achieve and maintain perfect dental and oral health.

Why are dental exams and cleanings so important?

Plaque is a layer of bacteria that grows in your mouth and is found between and on the surfaces of your teeth. It can cause periodontitis, gingivitis, and tooth decay. Tartar traps stains and forms crusty deposits on your teeth that complicate cleaning away plaque and bacteria. Tartar is produced by the interaction between plaque and your natural saliva.

Periodontitis is a serious medical condition that affects up to half of adults. Periodontitis erodes your jaw and gums and can cause permanent loss of teeth. At its most extreme, periodontitis infection can cause significant general health issues by spreading into other parts of your body through the bloodstream.

How do dentists and hygienists get teeth so clean?

During dental exams and teeth cleaning in Waterloo, your dentist and their staff will use materials and equipment that you can’t get your hands on. That’s why dentists can deliver results that you can’t achieve on your own, even removing plaque deposits and tartar accumulations. A deep cleaning by dentists involves six steps accomplished over roughly 30 to 60 minutes:

●     A hygienist will use a sterilized dental mirror and an ultrasonic tool to carefully and gently remove plaque and tartar deposits without damaging your teeth

●     The hygienist will then switch to more precise hand-held tools called curettes or scalers

●     The curettes or scalers will remove tiny deposits from your teeth one at a time, and smoothen the surface of your teeth after the tartar has been removed

●     Once all your teeth are freed of plaque and tartar, prophylaxis paste will be used to polish your teeth

●     Finally, you may receive flavoured fluoride to protect your teeth from plaque and tartar buildup and to restore some of the mineral loss in your teeth between checkups and cleanings

How often should I get my teeth cleaned?

As a general rule, a dentist in Waterloo will recommend that patients have their teeth professionally cleaned every six to twelve months along with maintaining rigorous attention to the details of daily dental care — brushing, flossing and using mouthwash. Getting your teeth professionally cleaned is not an alternative to good daily hygiene habits at home! The staff at your dental clinic in Waterloo will examine your medical and personal history for any risk factors that suggest a more frequent or different personalized treatment plan should be developed for you.

If you’re ready for teeth that are clean and healthy and have the best possible chance of staying that way, contact a dentist near you today to schedule a professional cleaning.