What are your salivary glands for?
[Medical News Today] Your salivary glands produce saliva in your mouth. Saliva helps you chew, swallow, digest your food and helps keep...
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Teeth Cleaning
What is Dental Hygiene?
On your first visit to Naples Dental, your dentist will take a full health history. If it is determined to be necessary, you will be scheduled for a deep cleaning by an Oral Hygienist. Sometimes, after your Routine Checkup, it may also be recommended to have a full deep cleaning. It is important to understand that this is a very specific procedure that removes built up plaque in ways that are not always possible at home. Here are some important reasons dental hygiene visits are important:
Freshen your breath
Good oral hygiene is the best way to prevent persistent bad breath. Even if you brush and floss regularly, getting a cleaning is a great way to keep your mouth healthy and odor-free.
Boost your overall health
Studies have shown a connection between oral and overall health. Regular dental cleanings may help lower your risk for some diseases, like heart disease and stroke. Many medical conditions, some of them life-threatening, can be detected in their early stages by your dentist during a routine oral exam.
Teeth Cleaning
Prevent cavities
The film that builds up on your teeth is called plaque and it is the leading cause of tooth decay. This acidic substance eats away at the tooth enamel and, if left untreated, can lead to cavities. Plaque can be removed by brushing, flossing and dental hygiene visits.
Brighten your smile
Coffee, tea, wine, tobacco etc. can stain your teeth. A dental hygiene cleaning can remove built-up stains and leave you with freshly polished teeth. The result? A whiter, brighter smile!
Stop tooth loss
Gum disease, which starts with built-up plaque, is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. As gum disease advances, plaque moves further down the tooth where it can destroy the supporting bone in your jaw, causing teeth to loosen and fall out. Luckily, the chance of this happening to you can be greatly reduced through regular dental cleanings combined with good oral hygiene habits.
Regular Cleaning Vs. Deep Cleaning and Periodontal Disease
Regular 6-Month Cleaning:
At your 6-month checkup with your dentist, a regular cleaning is performed to maintain healthy gums. The cleaning is used to remove the buildup of bacteria and tarter that accumulates in between the teeth and gums between regular cleanings. With proper cleanings, brushing, and flossing, bacteria is kept to a minimum to keep the gums healthy.
Deep Cleaning:
A deep cleaning is needed when there is a larger amount of bacteria and tarter buildup. When “pockets” form due to gum disease, the bacteria and tarter fill these pockets. When it’s not removed, it opens the door to a number of oral health complications, such as periodontal disease and eventual tooth loss.
Deep cleaning is also known as scaling and root planning. Removing plaque and tarter from the teeth’s surface and gum pockets is known as scaling, while root planning involves removing plaque and tarter from the surface of the roots. Unlike regular cleanings, it can take more than one appointment for the cleaning to be performed due to the extensiveness of the cleaning needed. In some cases, a follow up visit may also be needed to monitor the health of the teeth and gums, especially if pockets have formed.
For those who have periodontal disease, a deep cleaning can actually help reverse the progression of the disease. In fact, many see results within 3 months of having their teeth deep cleaned.
Is is very important to know that if a patient has advanced periodontal disease, a basic cleaning CAN NOT Legally be Performed!
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