What is teeth cleaning?

Teeth cleaning is an important part of oral hygiene and aims to prevent dental diseases from developing. During a teeth cleaning, the dental hygienist will remove accumulated plaque and tartar on the teeth.

Why is teeth cleaning done?

Dental hygiene is very important to avoid cavities and other oral diseases. Despite careful the daily care, it is important to have a teeth cleaning as they are more thorough and can refer you to a dentist if signs of disease are present.

If teeth cleaning is not performed often, plaque and tartar accumulate on the teeth, and the following dental diseases could develop:

• Dental cavities
• Halitosis
• Abscesses
• Gingivitis
• Periodontal disease

What does teeth cleaning consist of?

Teeth cleaning is a simple treatment that does not involve any anaesthesia and involves up to 20 minutes sat in a dental chair whilst the dental hygienist cleans your teeth. The dental hygienist begins the process by removing tartar and plaque with a scaler. Whilst flossing and brushing at home can remove plaque, once plaque hardens and turns in tartar, this can only be removed with a scaler at the dentist. The tooth is treated to remove any stains, your teeth will be expertly flossed using specialist tools. Finally, fluoride is applied to the teeth with a liquid fluoride rinse.

Aftercare:

After performing a tooth cleaning, it is important to continue with the good dental care. This should include brushing your teeth well two or three times a day, flossing daily and rinsing your mouth with antibacterial mouthwash. You should have dental teeth cleaning every 6-12 months.