A professional teeth cleaning is an extremely beneficial addition to your oral hygiene routine. Having regular cleanings at a dental office can significantly reduce the risk of cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease. But how long does a dental cleaning take? Please read our article to learn more about the procedure.
How Long Does a Dental Cleaning Take?
In most cases, a professional dental cleaning takes 30 to 60 minutes. The length of the procedure depends on the initial condition of your teeth and the amount of plaque and tartar in your mouth. If a patient has a lot of tartar on the teeth and under the gum line, the doctor will need to spend more time removing it. Also, such additional procedures as fluoride treatment can add to the time you spend at the dental office.
Your dentist will be able to give you an estimated time needed for the cleaning after the examination of your teeth and gums.
What Happens During a Dental Cleaning
Let us discuss what happens during the professional dental cleaning procedure.
- Typically, a dental cleaning starts with an exam to check the condition of your teeth and gum and if any signs of gum disease are present. Some dental offices offer an X-ray or a scan as a part of an exam if needed.
- Once the exam is done and your hygienist has accessed the amount and location of plaque and tartar in the mouth, they will proceed with the cleaning. Your doctor will use special tools, such as a scaler, to remove plaque and tartar.
- When all of the plaque and tartar are removed, your doctor will clean your teeth with gritty toothpaste and an electric toothbrush. During this step, all the debris left after scaling is cleaned away, and the teeth are polished.
- After the cleaning is complete, your hygienist will ask you to rinse your mouth with a special solution that contains fluoride.
- The final step—a professional fluoride treatment—is optional. However, it can be an extremely beneficial addition to your healthcare routine.
Why Do You Need a Fluoride Treatment
Professional fluoride treatment can offer many benefits to the health of your teeth and gums:
- Fluoride remineralizes the enamel of your teeth, thus making it stronger and more resilient to bacteria.
- Fluoride can help fight bacteria in the mouth and restrain its growth, thus preventing cavities and gum disease caused by bacteria.
- Fluoride can help improve the condition of the teeth that have cavities and slow down the growth of infection.
Fluoride solutions used at dental offices are more concentrated than those you can find in other-the-counter products. It is recommended to have professional fluoride treatments every 6 months.
How to Maintain Teeth Cleaning Results
Even if you visit a dental office for professional cleanings and fluoride treatments every 6 months, effective and consistent oral hygiene at home is still a must if you want to maintain good oral health.
If you do not brush and floss your teeth regularly, plaque that accumulates on the teeth throughout the day is bound to turn into tartar over time. Tartar can be removed only with special tools at a dental office. Bacteria proliferate in both plaque and tartar. Thus, you risk developing cavities and gum disease.
Below, we list some simple but important rules to follow:
- Brush your teeth twice a day for at least 2 minutes, making sure to clean the teeth thoroughly on all sides and in hard-to-reach spots in the mouth. Pay special attention to cleaning your teeth along the gum line.
- Choose a toothbrush that will not hurt your gums when you brush along the gum line but is still effective at removing all the debris and plaque. Most people will benefit from a medium softness or a soft brush.
- Opt for a fluoride toothpaste to strengthen the enamel and fight bacterial growth on a daily basis.
- Floss every evening.
- Consider using a water flosser as the first step in your routine to enhance the effectiveness of your regular flossing and brushing. Use fluoride toothpaste to remineralize your tooth enamel.
- Add a mono tuft brush to your routine. Use it once or twice a week to thoroughly clean each tooth.
Get a Dental Cleaning at Shodhan DHS
Sign up for professional teeth cleaning and fluoride treatment with an experienced dentist today. At Shodhan DHS, we use modern tools, products, and techniques to deliver the best results to our patients. We are looking forward to helping you boost your oral health.
