How To Take Care Of Your Dental Health After A Professional Dental Cleaning

Usually, a dental exam comes before a dental cleaning. After a good professional dental cleaning, the right step to take is to practice good dental care. However, some people fail to do this thereby making the previous dental cleaning ineffective and not long-lasting. It can be said that some people are not aware of these tips and instructions on how to maintain their dental cleaning. The good news is you’ll learn more and be informed about these dental tips after reading this article.

Dental exams are an in-office procedure that involves routine check-ups and examinations that are performed inside the mouth to check for disease or infections that can be detrimental to dental health.

Dental cleanings, on the other hand, takes place after a dental exam has been performed. It also involves an in-office professional dental cleaning that is performed by the dentist to clean out plaques and decays in the teeth. Dental exams and cleanings are very beneficial and are a form of preventive dental care (preventive dentistry) to help prevent dental problems in the future that could be caused by bad oral hygiene and the accumulation of bacteria and germs in the teeth.

What Kind Of Services Are Provided During Dental Exams?

During Dental exams, dentists offer different kinds of services to the patient.

The Diagnosis Services

The diagnosis services involve the use of X-rays to check out for diseases that can not be seen during a visible dental check-up. While performing a dental checkup and carrying out diagnosis on the patient, the dentist performs series of screenings like:

• Oral Cancer Screenings: Signs and symptoms can begin from the dental area. Oral cancer can begin to show signs that appear in the cheeks, gums, lips, palate, mouth, sinuses, or throat. If not early detected, it could be deadly and unable to treat easily. This is why a dental exam is important. Dentists advise that an oral cancer screening is performed at least once yearly.
• Gingivitis Screenings: Gingivitis is an early stage of periodontitis (gum disease). If this is early detected, it could save the patient from an advanced stage of gum disease which can lead to tooth loss and other health issues.

What Happens During A Professional Dental Cleaning?

A professional dental cleaning can only be carried out by a dentist or dental hygienist who will perform deep cleaning inside the teeth.

This is also known as a means of preventive dentistry. It is a way of practicing good dental hygiene to prevent diseases and infections. While brushing our teeth, there is a high possibility that we often leave out some areas. This is simply because you might not be able to clean deep into your teeth by yourself unless with the help of a dentist who would perform a deep dental cleaning on your teeth and gums to avoid teeth decay and gum infections. During a professional dental cleaning, the dental hygienist provides services like:

• Fluoride treatment: this is the use of raw minerals to prevent caries and starters from accumulating inside the teeth. It is a disinfectant that fights against germs and strengthens the enamel (hard outer surface of the teeth). The dentist applies the fluoride which might be in form of a gel, varnish, or foam on the teeth. Patients are to avoid food and drink consumption for 30 minutes after fluoride has been applied. Once the teeth have fully absorbed the fluoride, the patient will be able to eat or drink.
• Professional Teeth Whitening: Teeth whitening is a dental procedure that involves whitening the teeth to make them look whiter and brighter than they used to be. Patients who also have teeth discoloration can get a teeth whitening procedure from the dentist during professional dental cleaning.
• Removal Of Plaques And Tartar (Scaling): During a deep dental cleaning, plaques and tartars are removed from the teeth with small dental tools used by the dentist. The dentist touches every area of the teeth and makes sure that no single plaque is left.
• Smile makeovers: After a dental cleaning has been performed on a patient, the dentist can recommend dental appliances that can prevent cavities and decay from getting into the teeth. Most times, dental sealants are used for children while they are growing their permanent tooth, to prevent teeth infections and decay. However, adults can use dental sealants too. Though some adults already have tooth decays, the dentist can suggest other dental procedures that would be of help which are usually restorative dental procedures.

Professional Dental Cleaning Aftercare

After a deep dental cleaning, the patient also plays a role in making the treatment a successful one. There are maintenance tips that the patient needs to be informed about.

• After a dental cleaning, avoid eating or drinking something hot for the whole day since you’ve had a fluoride treatment.
• Avoid sticky foods like chips, pasta, and popcorn. You don’t want your teeth to stuck with food particles that are almost hard to clean off.
• Brush and floss your teeth daily.
• Avoid surgery foods and drinks.

Visit the dentist every 6 months for a dental checkup.