The Importance of a Dental Cleaning

You likely remember being nagged to brush and floss your teeth as a kid. Maybe those healthy habits have stuck with you into adulthood. But even if you have a flawless flossing technique and never miss an appointment with your toothbrush, it’s still not enough. 

If you truly want to achieve ultimate oral health, professional teeth cleanings should be a staple of your dental hygiene routine. 

At Goodman Dental Center, we want you to know that coming in twice a year for professional cleaning is one of the best things you can do for your oral health. 

Here are a few reasons our skilled and compassionate dentists, Dr. Brian Goodman and Dr. Tanner Goodman, say you should schedule regular cleaning appointments. 

Why is professional cleaning so important?

Brushing and flossing regularly at home rids your teeth of extra bacteria that might eventually turn into plaque buildup. But until our dental team has thoroughly cleaned your teeth, harmful bacteria can linger on your teeth and cause serious oral health conditions like cavities and gingivitis. 

Gingivitis, which presents as irritation, redness, and swelling, is typically the first stage of gum disease. If not properly treated, it can progress, allowing the bacteria to penetrate your teeth and the underlying bones. 

This advanced stage of gum disease, known as periodontitis, can lead to bone loss and a more severe, potentially life-threatening infection if it enters your bloodstream.

Only professionally trained dentists and hygienists have the knowledge and treatments that go beyond your trusted toothbrush to delay, prevent, or reverse the progression of gum disease. 

What’s included in a professional cleaning?

There are several parts to professional teeth cleaning. Each part focuses on evaluating your oral health and reducing your risk factors for cavities and periodontal disease. These are the basics of professional cleaning.

Examination

During your exam, we take time to thoroughly examine your teeth and gums. We look for cavities and search for signs of gingivitis during a visual exam of your teeth and through imaging tests like dental X-rays.

We also check for gum disease based on a rating system that measures the depth of the pocket between your teeth and gums and for the visible signs of gum disease. Infected gums can also bleed, which alerts us that bacteria has infected your gum tissue.

Cleaning

Removing tartar and plaque from the surface of your teeth is the next part of your professional teeth cleaning visit. 

After you eat or drink, bacteria cling to your teeth and develop into a sticky substance called plaque. Plaque eventually hardens into tartar, which increases your risk for cavities, tooth loss, and gum disease.

Your at-home routine inevitably misses some of the buildup of tartar, so we use special dental tools to gently scrape it off your teeth without damaging your enamel. 

After we’ve cleared away debris on teeth and at your gumline, we polish your teeth to remove stains from the surface of your enamel.

Floss and rinse

Invisible bacteria can settle into the spaces between your teeth. That’s why flossing is the best way to clean the areas your toothbrush can’t get to. 

Once we’ve scraped away any remnants of the bacteria, plaque, and tartar on the surface of your teeth, we floss between your teeth and offer tips on how to floss better at home.

We also rinse your teeth with fluoride, a mineral that restores the calcium and phosphorus in your enamel. Tooth enamel is both strong and durable, but injuries, acidic foods, and aging can damage it. 

As the enamel wears down, the yellowish-brown dentin layer underneath shows through, making your teeth appear dingy and discolored. A rinse with fluoride makes your teeth stronger and healthier and prevents your teeth from yellowing.

If you’d like more information or would like to schedule a cleaning, call our Queen Creek, Arizona, office or request an appointment online.