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Procedures

Dental Cleaning and Preventive Care

Preventive dentistry represents the starting point of your achievement of, and maintainence of a healthy, beaming smile.

With preventive oral care you can stop problematic oral health issues of various forms right in their tracks.

Regular cleaning and preventive dentistry play a crucial role in aesthetic dentistry and support your fight against bacteria of all kinds for general health. The following resource will provide an overview of cleanings and prevention for keeping your oral health at its best through proactive means.

Why Regular Dental Cleaning is Important

This is essential preventive care that helps remove plaque and tartar formation in those areas that are unreachable with regular brushing and flossing. Professional cleaning prevents diseases of the gums, cavities, and bad breath. Here’s why one should never skip a biannual visit to the dentist:

Plaque and Tartar Removal: No matter how great and regular your brushing and flossing are, a sticky film of plaque full of bacteria will remain. If not removed, this plaque eventually turns into tartar, a hard material that can only be removed by dental professionals.
Gingivitis: Preventing the disease is a motive because plaque and tartar at the gum line may cause it, which is the first stage of gum disease. These deposits are removed with regular cleanings, thus preventing progression to the much more severe forms of periodontal disease.
Cavity Prevention: Plaque bacteria produce acids that, if not properly treated, can weaken the enamel and create cavities. Cleanings heighten this threat by neutralizing it before it becomes a problem.
Early Detection of Problems: By visiting your dentist regularly, you can detect all problems while they are still in their early stages. This early detection and cure will provide you with a sense of relief and empowerment in managing your oral health.

How It Works: The Cleaning Process

Knowing what is going to happen in the course of your dental cleaning will be a great step in eliminating anxiety and ensuring that the most out of it. The process generally involves the following steps:

Physical Exam: A dental hygienist will begin by examining your whole mouth with a small mirror, further helping to identify potential concerns such as inflammation of the gums or cavities.
Scaling: This is where the hygienist uses a scaler to help you get rid of plaque and tartar from around your gum line and between teeth. It may be a little noisy, but it is necessary for good oral health.
Polish: Polishing of teeth involves using a high-powered brush and gritty toothpaste to remove surface stains and residual plaque, leaving teeth smooth and shiny. It is important because it helps prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar, reduces the risk of cavities, and enhances the overall appearance of your smile.
Flossing: Professional flossing helps remove any remaining plaque or toothpaste from the above steps and can also help identify particular spots where one may notice bleeding gums.
Rinsing and Fluoride Treatment: This is the last step, which involves a proper rinse to remove debris and then a fluoride treatment to safeguard your teeth against dental caries for some months.

Preventive dental care is important.

Preventive care is much more than cleanings. It is a routine, consistent maintenance that keeps teeth and gums healthy throughout the year. This includes:

Daily Oral Hygiene: The key here is to prevent plaque buildup, which can be done by brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste. You must brush your teeth at least twice every day and floss at least once daily.
Healthy Diet: It includes the right amount of fruits and vegetables, with proper intake of bread and whole grains. In sum, it helps minimize acidity in and around the teeth and ensures the teeth do not rot easily.
Regular dental visits: Plan and schedule a visit to your dentist once every six months (or as directed by your dentist) for an oral health check-up and for hygiene cleanings. This way, you can easily catch any potential problems early on for treatment.

The Role of Sealants and Fluoride Applications in Prevention Sealants

Sealants protect teeth from cavities. They are a coating applied to the surface of the teeth that you chew with—for instance, your back teeth, which are molars and premolars. The sealant forms an obstacle to protect enamel against plaque and acid attacks.

Who Needs Sealants: Children and teenagers are prime candidates, as their newly erupted permanent teeth are more cavity-prone. However, adults without fillings or decay in their molars can also benefit.

How The Sealant is Applied: The procedure is quick and painless. Following the cleaning of the tooth, a special gel is applied to the enamel surface to roughen it. The sealant is then painted on and hardened with a special light.

Fluoride Treatment

Fluoride treatments strengthen the enamel by making teeth more resistant to decay. Fluoride works by helping to remineralize the enamel of your teeth. Flouride treatment makes the enamel of your teeth more resistant i.e. more able to fight off acid from plaque and sugars, thereby prevent cavities.

Benefits: These treatments work amazingly for kids but also can be taken by adults since they have a very high risk of cavity formation.

Application: Fluoride varnish, gel, foam, or a rinse can be applied during a dental visit. It is a non-time-consuming and sometimes necessary treatment to protect your teeth.

Oral Health Home Care

Home oral hygiene is very good in preventing cavities and gum diseases; here is a simple routine one should follow to make you feel capable and in control of your oral health:

Brush Properly: Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. A high-quality brush should cover all surfaces of teeth. The toothbrush should be replaced every three months or after illness.

Floss daily because flossing removes plaque and food particles from the area between and beneath the teeth.

Use of a Mouthwash: Antimicrobial or fluoride mouthwash reduces plaque, prevents gingivitis, and hardens the enamel.

Hydrate: Water washes away food particles and bacteria from the mouth while maintaining its normal pH level.

Common Dental Cleaning and Prevention Myths

Myth 1: “If my teeth look good and feel fine about my teeth, I have no need to get them cleaned.”

Regular cleanings are necessary even if your teeth look and feel fine. Many oral health issues—including cavities and gum disease—can develop silently without obvious symptoms.

Myth 2: “I have to brush hard to clean my teeth better.”.

Brushing too hard may damage the gums and wear away the enamel. The effective brushing technique is – gentle circular motions with your toothrush. Remember to use a soft-bristled brush. This is actually more effective than a toothbrush with hard bristles which may damage the enamel of your teeth.

Myth 3: “Mouthwash washes away the need for brushing and flossing.”

No Mouthwash is a replacement for brushing and flossing! Any Mouthwash is completely supplemental. While it is true that mouthwashes help reduce bacteria in the mouth, these mouthwashes may also kill the good bacteria in your mouth. Moreover, mouthwashes are not efficient in removing plaque and food particles.

Knowing the importance of routine cleaning, what happens during the process, and how to maintain oral health at home can help you take responsibility for keeping a lifetime of healthy smiles.

Your oral health is a window that offers a peek into your general health; take good care of it. Call today to book an appointment for your next dental cleaning. Remember, regular dental visits are time well spent. These are an investment in your future oral health.

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Dentist London Ontario | Longo Dentistry

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