Teeth Cleanings

What is a dental cleaning and what’s involved?

A dental cleaning is a dental procedure that’s performed regularly to ensure excellent dental health as well as general physical health. Sometimes also called teeth cleanings, the importance of dental cleanings cannot be overlooked when it comes to dental care and hygiene.

At Sterling Dental, we work hard to provide each of our patients with a pleasant and smooth dental cleaning experience from beginning to end on every single visit. At the beginning of the dental cleaning, the dentist will examine your mouth to determine the overall health of your teeth and gums. The dentist will use a small mirror to see the teeth from all angles, and if the hygienist determines that there are problems, he or she may ask the dentist to review the situation and advise on how to proceed. However, if everything looks normal, your hygienist will proceed onto the next step.

During the cleaning, at Sterling Dental the dental hygienist will use a series of tools to remove plaque and tartar from along the gum line and from in between your teeth. After this is complete, a special electric toothbrush is used with “gritty” toothpaste to remove any last bits of tartar from the surface of the teeth. The next step is professional flossing, which is done to remove any tartar between the teeth that might have missed during home flossing sessions. Finally, you will be given a fluoride rinse to remove any bacteria or food particles left in your mouth. The fluoride rinse also works to coat and protect your teeth.

Once a year an x-ray will be administered during your dental cleaning to examine the other areas of the mouth that can’t easily be seen with the naked eye to make sure that your entire mouth and jaw are healthy. If the x-rays show that there are issues with the jaw or other structures of the mouth, the dentist will discuss these with you and develop a treatment plan customized to your needs.

And then the cleaning is done! But before you leave the dentist’s office, remember to make your next appointment for no more than 6 months in the future. Proper dental hygiene and bi-annual dental cleanings are essential if you want to maintain a beautiful smile for many years to come!

Who Should Get Dental Cleanings?

Everyone, no matter your age or situation, should receive regular, scheduled dental cleanings. If you’ve kept up a healthy dental hygiene practice and you visit the dentist regularly for routine checkups, there’s little reason to be concerned about the health of your mouth. There are only rare situations in which your dentist may not recommend bi-annual dental cleanings, and most of those situations involve severe hygienic neglect and an alternate treatment plan.

Our experts at Sterling Dental recommend that routine dental cleanings should start around the age of two or three years old, and continue throughout life.

How often should I get dental cleanings?

We advise our patients to come to the offices of Sterling Dental for dental cleanings no less than every six months. This is the appropriate interval of time to ensure the maximum benefit from the cleaning. Bi-annual cleanings are recommended by dentists worldwide. Maintaining a schedule of regular dental cleanings every six months can prevent dental issues and even improve general health!

Why Regular Dental Cleanings Are Important

Dental cleaning is one of the single most important dental care practices that you can do to ensure that your teeth stay healthy. Getting regular, routine dental cleanings is not only essential to the health of your teeth but also to the health of your body as a whole! The importance of dental cleanings truly can’t be ignored, since the effect of a healthy, clean mouth not only affects your oral and physical health, but it can also affect your self-esteem and confidence. Dr. Trivedi a Orlando dentist adds that another important part of dental cleaning is making sure your gums are healthy. Our Sterling Dental dentists and hygienists recommend regular dental cleanings to all patients. Here are some reasons why regular dental cleanings are important:

Stain and discoloration removal/treatment

Dental cleaning appointments involve a certain amount of stain removal. Some stains are surface stains and are easily removed during a dental cleaning! Proper, regular dental cleaning appointments can keep discoloration at bay and ensure that you retain your pearly whites for many years to come.

Prevents gum disease and cavities

Gum disease is an infection of the gums. When bacteria builds up in the mouth, the gums suffer and begin to develop symptoms of disease, ranging from comparatively minor problems like gingivitis to more major issues like periodontitis. In addition to preventing gum disease, regular dental cleanings can also prevent much-dreaded cavities! The cause of cavities lies in the build-up of plaque over time, and when too much plaque develops, bacteria can breed, leading to cavities. When you get a dental cleaning, the plaque is removed from your teeth, thus minimizing the chances of getting a cavity.

Improves cardiovascular health

Studies have shown that dental cleanings can dramatically reduce your risk of getting heart disease or of experiencing other cardiovascular problems

Reduces risk of respiratory infections

Believe it or not, good oral hygiene plays a role in keeping your lungs healthy. If you fail to care for the bacteria in your teeth and gums, they can spread into the respiratory system. Cavities and gum disease are easy to prevent through bi-annual dental cleanings combined with daily brushing and flossing.

Prevent dementia in older age

According to some studies, women who take good care of their teeth and gums have a lower risk of developing dementia. This is an excellent example of how daily brushing and flossing combined with bi-annual visits to the dentist can have an important impact on the trajectory of a patient’s general health.

Early oral cancer prevention and detection

Every time a patient visits us for a dental cleaning, we look closely at the tongue, lips, and other mouth structures to make sure there are no signs of cancer developing. Early detection of mouth cancer can save a patient’s life. Bi-annual visits to the dentist for teeth cleaning is a big part of the life-saving screening process.