Teeth cleaning is a part of oral hygiene where an oral health professional removes plaque, calculus, or tartar from and around the teeth in a clinical setting as a preventive measure against oral disease. It is also known as dental prophylaxis due to its preventive function.

How often should one do professional teeth cleaning?

Professional teeth cleaning is a routine procedure despite the ideal frequency not being empirically defined. The widely accepted one however is twice a year, every six months.

Why is professional teeth cleaning important?

Professional teeth cleaning is important for a variety of reasons.

It removes plaque and tartar which could have caused periodontal diseases and even some systemic diseases for example Heart Failure.
It greatly improves the aesthetic of one’s smile. During oral prophylaxis, stains and calculi which are hard to remove using normal tooth brushing are removed and thus the smile is brighter.
A fresher breath is attained since all the debris that could be on and around the teeth is effectively removed.
Identification of health issues. These could be both oral and extra oral but during the process of teeth cleaning, conditions can be identified and dealt with in their early stages.

What happens during teeth cleaning?

The procedure for teeth cleaning is short and easy to do. It is also thankfully not painful unless there’s an underlying pathology for example inflamed gums or cavities in the teeth or hypersensitivity. It takes around thirty to sixty minutes, depending on how extensive the cleaning has to be in tandem with how dirty the teeth are.

First, the dentist carries out a physical exam, both intraorally and extra orally.

They then ask you to rinse your mouth with an antiseptic to kill any microorganisms that may utilize the chance to invade your body.

The dentist then applies a disclosing solution to your teeth and on the areas around them. The solution colors the tartar or calculi differently depending on how long it has been present.

Using a dental mirror, he’ll then see the areas which need special attention.

The dentist will then use a scaler to scrape off the debris on your teeth. The scaler has a sharp end and a non-pointed end, the sharp end is used above the gum line and the blunt end is used below the gum line. The scaler maybe metallic or ultrasonic depending on availability, and of course the patient.

After debridement, the dentist will apply Prophypaste; a material containing gritty substances and fluoride among other components. He applies this using a rubber tipped rotary brush attached bon a low speed hand piece to remove any remaining caliculi and to give the teeth some polishing.

They’ll then rinse your mouth and hand you a mirror to see your brighter smile.

Is professional teeth cleaning safe?

The procedure is a safe one and the myths around eroding enamel and dentine are just that; myths. The slightly common side effect is hypersensitivity of the teeth especially to hot and cold food. This is however because the tartar which was covering those areas has been removed and hence the teeth are yet to be remineralised.

Does professional teeth cleaning hurt?

Ideally there should be no pain during professional teeth cleaning. However the pain that may be present during the procedure is usually as a result of periodontal disease or cavities present at the time the procedure is carried out.

Where can I do professional teeth cleaning?

Professional teeth cleaning is available at Ezza Dental Care and so, you can book your appointment with us. Our contact is available on the website and on all our social media platforms.