{"id":180,"date":"2024-02-13T20:21:43","date_gmt":"2024-02-13T20:21:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drruiz.com\/blog\/?p=180"},"modified":"2024-08-23T17:22:36","modified_gmt":"2024-08-23T17:22:36","slug":"what-happens-during-a-teeth-cleaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drruiz.com\/blog\/what-happens-during-a-teeth-cleaning\/","title":{"rendered":"What Happens During a Teeth Cleaning?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Your oral health is an essential part of your overall health and well-being. In fact, poor oral health has even been linked with other conditions like heart disease and strokes. While good oral health starts at home by brushing, flossing, and avoiding sugary foods as much as possible, visiting the dentist for regular teeth cleanings and checkups is also very important. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Some people put off this recommendation for far too long due to anxiety about what will happen at their appointments. So, in this article, we\u2019ll go over what happens during a teeth cleaning appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s get into it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What happens during a teeth cleaning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Initial oral exam<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your teeth cleaning will typically start with your dental hygienist examining your mouth, teeth, and gums. They\u2019ll make sure that there aren\u2019t any underlying conditions so that they can continue with your cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Removal of plaque and tartar<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Over time, dental plaque will build up on your teeth. Plaque<\/a> contains bacteria that can break down your tooth enamel. If not removed, over time, plaque will turn into tartar and cause things like cavities, gingivitis, and periodontitis. So, at your teeth cleaning, your dental hygienist will work to remove this plaque and tartar. Keep in mind that once plaque turns into tartar, it can\u2019t be removed by just brushing your teeth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your dental hygienist might perform a process called scaling and planing if they need to remove plaque buildup from below your gumline. This is typically reserved for people with mild to moderate gum disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teeth polishing and flossing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After removing the plaque and tartar from your teeth, your dental hygienist will polish them with an electric brush and a gritty toothpaste. Your hygienist will then floss your teeth in places that you might have missed at home due to them being hard to reach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rinsing (with fluoride)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After all this cleaning, your hygienist will give you a mouth rinse to get rid of any debris left in your mouth. This rinse usually has fluoride<\/a> in it. Fluoride is a mineral that has been found to protect your enamel from decay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

X-rays<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

X-rays will typically be done once a year, so in only of your visits if you keep up with the ADA recommendation of two cleanings a year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Checkup with dentist<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After your dental hygienist has finished up your cleaning, your dentist will typically come in to examine your mouth, teeth, and gums and look for signs of any issues with your oral health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Go over improvements you can make<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Education can often play a part in your teeth cleaning appointments. If your dental hygienist found a lot of plaque and tartar buildup during your appointment, they might give recommendations on how you can improve your at-home oral care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How long does a teeth cleaning take?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A regular teeth cleaning appointment will typically take just 30-60 minutes long. However, if you need a deep cleaning or if issues are noticed, the appointment might last a little longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the benefits of teeth cleanings?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As stated earlier, dental cleanings are vital to maintaining good oral health. Some benefits of teeth cleanings are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n