Many people dread teeth cleanings. Between the prodding, strange noises, and occasional jaw discomfort, it\u2019s easy to understand their apprehension. But for most, a teeth cleaning is simple and painless.<\/p>\n
Knowing exactly what is going on during the process can help ease your stress and allow you to better enjoy the minty-fresh results. Here’s what you can expect:<\/p>\n
Most teeth cleanings are performed by a dental hygienist. Before the actual cleaning process begins, they start with a physical exam of your entire mouth.<\/p>\n
The dental hygienist uses a small mirror to check around your teeth and gums for any signs of gingivitis<\/a> (inflamed gums) or other potential concerns.<\/p>\n If they detect major problems, the dental hygienist might call the dentist to make sure it\u2019s fine to proceed.<\/p>\n With the small mirror to guide them, the dental hygienist uses a scaler to get rid of plaque and tartar around your gum line, as well as in between your teeth. You\u2019ll hear scraping, but this is normal. The more tartar there is in your mouth, the more time they\u2019ll need to scrape a particular spot.<\/p>\n Brushing and flossing stops plaque from building up and hardening into tartar. Once you have tartar, you can only have it removed at your dentist\u2019s office. So if this is your least favorite part of the teeth cleaning process, the lesson is to brush and floss more often.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n After your teeth are scaled, the hygienist brushes them with a high-powered electric brush.which makes a grinding noise. While it sounds scary, it\u2019s a great way to get a deep clean and remove any tartar left behind from the scaler.<\/p>\n Professional cleanings use pumice, also known as paste, that smells and tastes like regular toothpaste, though you can often choose between flavors. However, it has a gritty consistency that gently scrubs your teeth. If done by a professional, this polishing of the teeth is deemed safe to do twice a year. But don\u2019t be as harsh with your teeth at home, because you\u2019ll wear down the enamel.<\/p>\n Whether you floss regularly at home or not, nothing beats a hygienist flossing session. Your dental hygienist can get deep between your teeth and locate any potential trouble spots where you might bleed at the gums.<\/p>\n This might seem pointless if you floss at home, but having a professional floss your teeth also removes any leftover plaque or pumice from earlier in the cleaning process.<\/p>\n Next, you rinse out your mouth to get rid of any debris.\u00a0<\/p>\n The last step of the cleaning process is a fluoride treatment. This treatment is used as a protectant for your teeth to help fight against cavities for several months.<\/p>\n Your dental hygienist may ask you what flavor you like best. They\u2019ll then place the foamy gel (or sometimes a sticky paste) into a mouthpiece that fits over your teeth. It\u2019s usually left on your teeth for one minute. Besides the foamy gel, fluoride varnish is also painted onto the teeth with a small brush. After receiving your fluoride varnish, we recommend waiting roughly 3 hours before consuming any hot or crunchy foods.<\/p>\n Professional teeth cleanings are scheduled twice a year, while X-rays<\/a> are normally done once a year. Still, depending on what your dentist or dental hygienist observes in your mouth, they might do other exams during your visit. For children, a dentist may recommend molar sealants to help prevent cavities in hard-to-brush areas.<\/p>\n Whether you need any additional steps or not, the key is to keep going back to the dentist for regular teeth cleanings to prevent problems altogether. By understanding what\u2019s going on in advance, you\u2019ll feel more at ease \u2014 and maybe even look forward to these appointments.<\/p>\n **This information was provided by healthline. View the entire article here.<\/a>**<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/b><\/h4>\n
2. Removing plaque and tartar<\/b><\/h4>\n
3. Gritty toothpaste cleaning<\/b><\/h4>\n
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4. Expert flossing<\/b><\/h4>\n
5. Rinsing<\/b><\/h4>\n
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6. Applying fluoride treatment<\/b><\/h4>\n
Other potential steps<\/b><\/h4>\n