Not even daily flossing, brushing, mouth-washing, and regular dental appointments will completely prevent the accumulation of plaque and tartar on your teeth. Professional teeth cleaning by a hygienist at a dental clinic in West Edmonton is not a substitute for good oral hygiene habits but can remove plaque and tartar from your teeth.
Plaque is a film of bacteria — sometimes called biofilm — that grows in your mouth and is often found between teeth, on the front and back of teeth, on the chewing surfaces of your teeth, and even along and below your gum line. Plaque build-ups can cause tooth decay, gingivitis, and periodontitis.
Tartar is formed from the combination of chemicals in your saliva and plaque accumulations. Tartar — sometimes referred to as dental calculus — traps stains and discolours your teeth in crusty deposits. As tartar accumulates on your teeth, removing new plaque and bacteria is harder and harder.
Deep cleanings remove that plaque and tartar not just from the visible surfaces of your teeth, but from the surfaces of your tooth below your gum line (or on surfaces of your teeth that would normally be below your gums, but that might be exposed due to gum recession caused by gum disease).
Not even daily flossing, brushing, mouth-washing, and regular dental appointments will completely prevent the accumulation of plaque and tartar on your teeth. Professional teeth cleaning by a hygienist at a dental clinic in West Edmonton is not a substitute for good oral hygiene habits but can remove plaque and tartar from your teeth.
The primary effects of a professional dental cleaning in Dentiora are cleaner teeth, healthier gums, and better oral health. Like any medical or dental procedure, there can be other effects you should be aware of. Here are the most likely side effects of undergoing dental cleaning near you:
Sensitive teeth. If your teeth have been allowed to stay dirty for a long time, they may be affected by a hard layer of calculus called tartar. Once your dentist in West Edmonton removes that layer of tartar, the clean surface of your teeth is exposed to air, breezes, liquids, and foods of all temperatures for the first time in perhaps a long time. As a result, your teeth may be unusually sensitive, though this temporary side effect typically fades after a few days.
Sore gums. The removal of plaque and tartar from your teeth near, along with, and below the line of your gums can cause soreness in your gums. That gum soreness is common after a deep cleaning, but temporary and can be resolved by taking over-the-counter pain medications and rinsing with saltwater.
Bleeding gums. In some cases — particularly situations, where you have serious periodontal disease — removing the plaque and tartar along and below your gums, may cause some short-term and minor bleeding in your gums. The same physical process of removing plaque and tartar near and below your gums can also cause some temporarily swollen gums. That swelling usually fades after a few days. In rare cases, that swelling may be the sign of an infection that can be treated with antibiotics prescribed by a dentist near you.
Newly noticeable gaps between your teeth. There are spaces between every one of your teeth, some very small and others wider. Food deposits and that are allowed to accumulate on your teeth to produce plaque and tartar gradually fill in and close those gaps. After a while, those gaps disappear or shrink from visibility. Removing the food particles, plaque and tartar will reveal those original gaps. Cleaning won’t create a gap, but might reveal one that you were unaware of, had forgotten about, or gotten used to not seeing.
The side effects of professional and deep teeth cleanings are minor and temporary. They can be treated as simply as by using desensitizing toothpaste, antimicrobial mouthwash, salt water rinses, and over-the-counter painkillers. If you haven’t had your teeth cleaned in a year or more, make an appointment with a dentist to get rid of the plaque and tartar on your teeth before the health of your teeth and gums is put at even greater risk.
A deep teeth cleaning can remove a buildup of plaque and tartar on your teeth, reducing gum inflammation and improving gum health.
Plaque is a sticky film that forms on teeth. It contains bacteria and develops when food particles mix with saliva. You can remove plaque, which collects on teeth daily, by brushing your teeth.
Brushing, however, doesn’t remove all plaque in between your teeth. Leftover plaque calcifies or hardens, which forms tartar.
The accumulation of plaque or tartar can lead to gum disease. This includes gingivitis, which is inflammation of the gums. If left untreated, gingivitis can advance to periodontitis. This is a serious infection that destroys the bone that supports the teeth.
You might need a deep cleaning if gum disease causes your gums to pull away from your teeth, creating a space greater than 5 millimeters (mm) deep.
If gum disease worsens, the space between your gums and teeth can continue to widen. This can weaken the bones that support your teeth, causing loose teeth or tooth loss.
If your dentist recommends a deep cleaning, benefits of this procedure include:
Although deep cleaning can treat gum disease, the procedure has its risks. Disadvantages of deep cleaning teeth include:
Pain and sensitivity are the most common side effects. Risks from deep cleaning are usually minimal and only last about 5 to 7 days, though, for extensive cases, this may extend to a few weeks.
Deep teeth cleanings differ from routine teeth cleanings. Regular cleaning removes plaque and tartar from above the gumline. A deep cleaning, on the other hand, removes plaque and tartar from below the gumline.
Gum disease causes a space or gap between your teeth and gums, where tartar and plaque can become trapped. Cleaning below the gum line removes this buildup.
Deep cleanings usually take place over two or more visits and involve gum scaling and root planing. Each visit can take 1 to 2 hours.
The tooth scaling appointment is when your dentist removes plaque and tartar from below the gumline. During the root planning visit, your dentist removes plaque and tartar that form on the roots of your teeth. This helps reduce the size of the space between your teeth and gums, helping your gums reattach to the teeth.
If your immune system is compromised, you might have to take an antibiotic for a few days. That’s because there’s a risk of infection after the procedure. In addition, deep dental cleanings can sometimes release bacteria into the bloodstream.
Teeth scaling and root planing can cause some discomfort, so you’ll receive a topical or local anesthetic to numb your gums.
You can expect some sensitivity after your treatment. Your gums might swell, and you might have minor bleeding, too.
Eating soft foods (yogurt, applesauce, or mashed potatoes) for a few days after your procedure can help reduce sensitivity. You should also avoid extremely hot or cold foods and drinks.
Taking over-the-counter pain medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen can reduce inflammation, as well as rinsing with warm saltwater.
Brushing and flossing on a regular basis promote healing and reduce further gum inflammation. Use a soft-bristle toothbrush at least twice per day, and floss at least once per day.