Teeth Cleaning Services in Odessa, FL
BOOK APPOINTMENT ONLINEPRESERVING YOUR SMILE WITH TEETH CLEANING
While brushing twice a day, and flossing regularly is enough to keep your pearly whites looking sparkly, plaque and tartar can still build up in hard-to-reach places like between your teeth and underneath your gums. By attending regular teeth cleaning appointments in Odessa, FL, our dental hygienists can help maintain the longevity of your teeth by preventing both gum disease and tooth decay, while tackling any potential problems early on, before they have a chance to become serious.
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WHAT ARE PLAQUE AND TARTAR?
Plaque is a thin layer of bacteria that sits over the top of your teeth and if left alone, can not only cause tooth decay and gum disease to form, but it can harden into tartar. Tartar, on the other hand, is calcified deposits of plaque that accumulate and build up over time when plaque isn’t removed properly. The reason why teeth cleanings are one of the best things you can do for your oral health is that dental hygienists are the only ones with the proper tools and training to remove both plaque and tartar from your smile.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING A TEETH CLEANING APPOINTMENT?
When you book an appointment with us, our dental hygienists will ask you to sit comfortably in the dental chair, and you’ll be given a set of safety glasses to protect your eyes from the fluorescent light and water that is used during the cleaning. From this point forward, your teeth will be systematically cleaned using specialized tools in a 4-step process:
1. A small hand scaler will be used to scrape away any plaque or tartar that has built up on your teeth or between them.
2. Once all the visible plaque and tartar has been removed, a spinning toothbrush called an ultrasonic scaler will be used to break up any remaining plaque beneath the surface of your gums.
3. Your teeth may be flossed using interdental brushes, if there are any remaining food particles or plaque left between the teeth.
4. Finally, your teeth will be polished using a gritty toothpaste, which leaves a smooth, and shiny finish.
Fluoride treatments may also be applied at this time to help prevent tooth decay.
HOW FREQUENTLY SHOULD YOU GET A TEETH CLEANING?
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that individuals with healthy gums have regular teeth cleaning sessions every six months. You may need more frequent cleanings, depending on your oral health. Our dental hygienists will let you know how often you need to come based on the current state of your oral health.
DENTAL CLEANING CHECKLIST: KNOWING WHEN IT’S TIME TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
The easiest way to tell if you need to book an appointment for teeth cleaning in Odessa, FL, is if you haven’t been in the last six months. It’s also recommended to book an appointment if your teeth are bleeding during flossing or brushing, if you have any staining, or if you can see a buildup of plaque on your teeth (a good place to look is the lower front teeth).
DEEP DENTAL CLEANING VS. REGULAR CLEANING DIFFERENCES
Regular teeth cleaning appointments are meant to prevent gum disease and tooth decay by ridding your mouth of the plaque and tartar that cause these conditions to form. A deep dental cleaning, also known as scaling and root planing, is a more intensive teeth cleaning process that is used to treat disease beneath the gum line. This type of cleaning is often necessary for people who have periodontitis, or the advanced stages of gum disease.
During a deep dental cleaning, the tartar will be removed from below the gum line and the roots of your teeth will be smoothed to help prevent tartar from accumulating in the future.
A PERK OF TEETH CLEANING APPOINTMENTS: ORAL CANCER SCREENINGS
In addition to removing plaque and tartar from your teeth, professional teeth cleanings are also an opportunity for our dental hygienists to screen for oral cancer. Oral cancer screenings are quick, painless, and can be life-saving, as the key to surviving oral cancer is through early detection and treatment.
During the screening, the dental hygienist will feel for any lumps or bumps in your neck, head, and mouth. They will also visually examine the inside of your mouth for any red or white patches. If anything out of the ordinary is found, a biopsy may be recommended.
PREVENTING DENTAL ISSUES
The bottom line is that professional teeth cleanings are critical to your oral health and overall well-being, and are often the first line of defense in tackling problems such as gum disease and oral cancer. Teeth cleanings in Odessa, FL can be easily scheduled by calling our office or booking an appointment online.
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