FAQ on teeth cleaning and polishing –Answered!

Keeping your teeth clean should be one of the top most priorities in your health plan. A teeth cleaning appointment will be your most valuable visit to the dentist as it will help to identify and prevent gum diseases at an early stage, avoiding harmful consequences later on in life. Although daily brushing, flossing and mouth rinses do help to keep your teeth clean,  professional teeth cleaning is required to get rid of debris from every nook and cranny in the mouth. In this blog, we answer some commonly asked questions about teeth cleaning-

1. How often is teeth cleaning required?

It is essential that you visit the dentist at least every  six months. This adds up to  two visits per year which are enough for a dentist to identify teeth or gum problems and rectify them ASAP.

2. Will the procedure hurt?

Teeth cleaning procedure involves the removal of plaque and tartar, which are layers of germs adhering to the surface of the teeth. There will be absolutely no digging, excavating or drilling of teeth or surrounding structures. You may feel a bit of sensitivity which will be  taken care of  by your dentist  with a mild surface anaesthetic.

3. How many visits does it require for the complete procedure?

The number of visits are determined  by the severity of the problem. If you have mild to moderate accumulation of plaque or tartar with early stages of gingivitis, your teeth can be cleaned in a single visit. But, if there is extensive tartar build up accompanied by severe gingivitis or periodontitis, it may take  two or more appointments to eliminate the problem.

4. What steps are involved in teeth cleaning ?

• Scaling – Specialized cleaning instruments are used to gently break down the plaque or tartar deposits without causing damage to the soft gums. These instruments use ultrasonic vibration to loosen and fragment the hard deposits sticking to the teeth surface. Water is sprayed to wash away the debris.
• Polishing – Once complete elimination of tartar deposits is achieved,  special prophylactic pastes  are applied  to the tooth surfaces and polished with rubber cups and polishing brushes attached to a handpiece. Polishing helps to remove superficial stains and render the surface smooth which also prevents  debris from attaching to the teeth afterwards.

5. Now that my teeth are cleaned, do I really need to floss?

Yes, yes and yes! Flossing helps to remove the food particles stuck between  the teeth. These food particles are the primary source of nutrition for the harmful oral germs through which they can decay teeth or cause gum diseases. Flossing may be hard to master initially and of  course is very boring but  a few minutes of trouble can help you far in the long term.

Teeth cleaning helps  to prevent and control gum diseases and tooth decay, so  make it a priority to get regular oral check-ups and maintain a healthy oral environment.

To get professional teeth cleaning done, contact Green Meadow Dental, 3579B Berlin Turnpike, Newington CT 06111, call: (860)-865-0056. Families from East Berlin find the easy drive to Newington well worthwhile because or our expertise and modern facilities, our friendly dental team and the relaxing disposition of Dr. Mukund. We also serve neighboring areas including Farmington, Rocky Hill and West Hartford.