When talking about oral hygiene, there are several things we all know to do to avoid going to the dentist. We brush twice a day for five minutes, we floss once a day, and we avoid eating sticky, sugary foods. In short, we do the preventive medicine required for minimal oral health.
Now that you're listening, a qualified dentist or hygienist should do your dental cleaning, preferably every six months. Professional dental cleaning can be broken down into three main subcategories, namely: scaling, root planning, and polishing.
But, no matter how you slice it, the time will come for a professional dental cleaning. Maybe you smoke. Maybe you drink coffee or tea and the stains are starting to set in. Maybe you've got periodontal sensitivity and you need someone to look at your gums. Even all the newfangled teeth whiteners and stain removers on the market are no substitute for semi-annual dental cleaning.
Routine dental cleanings are your first line of defense against oral cancers, gum disease, ulceration, and easily avoidable oral health problems such as bad breath (halitosis), gingivitis, tartar (calculus) buildup, and tooth decay. While brushing and flossing alone can remove as much as 70% of the plaque on your teeth, the other 30% lurks in areas that are harder to reach, and professional cleanings are the most sensible preventive medicine.
The American Dental Association (ADA) used to recommend that a child get their first dental cleaning at the age of three. But the recent wave of cavities in children entering kindergarten has forced the ADA to redefine their guidelines, and now most dentists recommend an initial visit to the dentist shortly after the eruption of the first teeth, which takes place during the first year.
A professional dental cleaning usually comes in three garden varieties: scaling, root planning, and polishing. Scaling is simply the removal of plaque, and traditionally it involved scraping the excess tartar from the teeth using dental instruments, and was done manually. However, recent technological advancements have increased the scope of scaling, and scaling can now be done electrically, ultrasonically, or with lasers.
Root planning is basically gum work, the cleaning of pockets to prevent further development of periodontal or gum disease. When gums are inflamed, the pockets tend to become deeper, making it much easier for them to trap plaque deposits, further worsening the condition of the gums. Root planning can sometimes be a painful process requiring local anesthesia.
Polishing is normally accomplished by spraying the teeth with powered water mixed with a baking soda solution. The powered water helps unhinge the most stubborn plaque, and the baking soda helps neutralize the acidic environment of the mouth. Neither of these procedures is painful, and the earlier your children receive proper dental cleanings, the more accustomed they will become to the process, and the better care they will take of their teeth.
By Ornella
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