What is Teeth Cleaning?
Professional teeth cleanings are an important part of any oral hygiene routine. While many people enjoy the feeling of freshly clean teeth, visiting the dentist could lead to anxiety for some people. Understanding the simple steps of the teeth cleaning procedure can help manage any anxiety or stress and might even make you look forward to your next teeth cleaning.
Any dental procedure, whether it’s as simple as a cleaning or a more complex treatment, begins with a physical exam. In the case of teeth cleaning, a dental hygienist performs this physical exam, using a mirror to examine the teeth, gums, and oral tissues to look for any inflammation or other signs of concern. In many cases, a dentist will also check the teeth during this initial exam, ensuring that there aren’t any immediate concerns and confirming that the teeth cleaning can proceed without issue. The dentist or dental hygienist may determine that additional exams or procedures are needed; these could include dental X-rays, molar sealants, or simple instruction in home hygiene behaviors.
The steps of the actual teeth cleaning procedure are:
- Manually removing plaque and tartar
- Cleaning and polishing the teeth
- Flossing
- Rinsing
- Applying fluoride treatment, if necessary
Using a fine metal scraping tool called a scaler, the dental hygienist will remove plaque and tartar from between the teeth and along the gums. It’s impossible to remove calcified plaque with simple brushing and flossing, so this step is particularly important for maintaining oral health and preventing gum disease. In areas where more tartar has accumulated, the dental hygienist might spend more time and focus, making sure to scrape away every last bit of bacteria. While you’ll hear the scraping sound and feel some pressure on your teeth and gums, the hygienist’s tool is designed to protect the gums and keep the soft tissues from sustaining damage as the surfaces of the teeth are thoroughly cleaned.
Once all traces of plaque and tartar are cleaned off the teeth and removed from the gum line, the dental hygienist polishes the tooth surfaces, front and back, smoothing and cleaning them with gritty toothpaste and an electric brush. This combination of powerful cleaning tools helps prevent plaque buildup, removing minimal stains while making the teeth smooth, shiny, and clean. After polishing your teeth, the hygienist will carefully floss between your teeth, modeling proper flossing technique and noting any areas of gum sensitivity. Then, you’ll rinse any lingering debris out of your mouth before any additional treatments, like fluoride application, are performed. Fluoride treatments aren’t required for every patient, but they’re particularly helpful in protecting against cavities and may be used in more cavity-prone patients. These treatments use a mouthpiece to apply a fluoride gel or paste to the teeth and hold it in place against the teeth, and they may also rely on brushing fluoride varnish onto the surfaces of the teeth, especially in harder-to-reach places.
Whether fluoride treatments are used or not, the careful steps of a teeth cleaning help reduce the accumulation of future plaque and tartar while managing and preventing tooth decay and gum disease. It may seem like a simple procedure, but a professional teeth cleaning routine is an integral part of a lifetime of oral health and an easy way to improve your smile.
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