01 Dec The Importance of Regular Dental Cleanings

Good oral hygiene is the cornerstone of good oral healthcare. Dental cleanings at Ashley Dental Center are recommended every six months. To learn more about regular dental cleanings at Ashley Dental Center and what you can do at home to keep your teeth healthy, keep reading. 

Dental Cleanings in Adelphi, MD

First, let’s talk about what happens during a dental cleaning. First, your dentist will look at your teeth. They will examine them to see if we should address any vital dentistry concerns before cleaning your teeth. If there are restorative dentistry concerns, your dentist may do these before the cleaning. Once the cleaning begins, your dental hygienist will start by scaling, which is a procedure that scrapes off plaque and tartar. Scaling is an essential part of dental cleaning because you cannot remove tartar at home with a toothbrush and toothpaste. The scaling tooth has a hook on the end, and the hygienist will use a small mirror to visualize the tooth.

The second part of the dental cleaning is brushing and flossing. Your hygienist will use special gritty toothpaste. This specific texture helps further scrape off plaque and tartar on your teeth. You should only use this toothpaste at the dental office because if used regularly, it can cause damage to your tooth’s protective layer, the enamel. Next, your dental hygienist will floss between your teeth. Flossing is essential at the dental office and home because it reaches between the teeth, the hard-to-reach places. 

The last part is rinsing the mouth and offering fluoride and sealants. After rinsing your mouth, your dentist and dental hygienist may ask you if you want fluoride or dental sealants. Fluoride is a gel painted over your teeth that chemically strengthens the outer layer of your tooth, the enamel, through a process called remineralization. Many patients prefer this procedure because it can help protect against decay buildup on their teeth. Sealants are either a composite resin, the same material used to fill in cavities, or a glass ionomer. Sealants seal the top of the back molars so that debris and bacteria slide off the surface. Sealants make it harder for bacteria and debris to collect on the tooth’s surface, leading to less decay. 

What can You do at Home to Protect your Teeth?

There are several things that Ashley Dental Center recommends that you do at home to maintain your oral health. One way is to establish an excellent oral hygiene routine. You can do a good oral hygiene routine by brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash twice a day. A good oral hygiene routine is necessary to remove the plaque and debris collected daily. If the waste builds up, this can cause bacteria to be attracted to your teeth leading to decay. If decay builds up on your teeth, you may eventually need a dental filling. Another essential part of the dental hygiene routine is visiting your dentist at Ashley Dental Center every six months. Lastly, you can enhance your oral hygiene routine by using fluoridated toothpaste and mouthwash. When you use fluoridated toothpaste and mouthwash, a chemical reaction called remineralization occurs. This chemical reaction strengthens the outside layer of your tooth, the enamel. This process further protects your teeth from decay. 

Dental cleanings are an essential part of a dental hygiene routine. A dental hygiene routine happens at Ashley Dental Center and your home. Call our office today to learn more about dental cleanings or schedule an appointment.