What is proper dental hygiene?
When we talk about proper dental hygiene, we're essentially discussing how to keep your gums, teeth, and mouth clean and healthy. This involves brushing and flossing your teeth, consuming the correct foods and drinks, as well as limiting your sugar intake. All these factors contribute to proper dental hygiene.
What can happen if I don't practice good dental hygiene?
If you neglect good dental hygiene, it can lead to various issues. These could range from other medical problems to losing your teeth. Although we can replace and repair teeth, nothing compares to the original ones you were born with.
What are the main duties of a dental hygienist?
A dental hygienist is a critical member of our team at Crown Dentistry. Their main role is to help patients clean their teeth by removing food and bacteria that accumulate over time. Their goal is to restore your mouth's health.
What is involved in a dental cleaning?
A dental cleaning involves several key steps. The primary one is removing food, bacteria, plaque, and calculus from a patient's teeth using various instruments like hand tools, an ultrasonic scaler, and floss. Dental cleaning sessions typically conclude with a mouthwash or antibacterial rinse.
What kind of tools do dental hygienists use?
Dental hygienists use various hand tools such as picks or scalers to remove debris, leftover food, or bacteria from the teeth. They also use floss to clean between the teeth. Sometimes, they may use an ultrasonic scaler, which vibrates and squirts water on the teeth. Post cleaning, our hygienist will usually polish your teeth for a clean and smooth finish.
Does a hygienist teeth cleaning usually hurt?
Not typically. However, some people are naturally more sensitive. A lot depends on the health of the patient's teeth and gums. If your gums and teeth are healthy, your cleaning will be more pleasant. On the contrary, if you haven't had your teeth cleaned in a while or have cavities or gum disease, these factors can potentially increase the discomfort or sensitivity of a teeth cleaning. We can use laughing gas or topical anesthetic or even local anesthetic to make the process more comfortable.
How long should a typical dental cleaning take?
The duration of teeth cleanings depends on the health of your teeth and gums. For patients with healthy teeth and gums, cleanings are relatively quick and straightforward, taking as little as 30 to 45 minutes. If you have more buildup that needs to be cleaned, then it takes a little longer.
Why is deep cleaning by a dental hygienist necessary?
Deep cleaning, technically known as scaling and root planing, may be required for people with gum disease. In such cases, we need to go underneath the gums and clean out bacteria, food, and buildup.
Is it necessary to do anything after a dental cleaning?
After a dental cleaning, we recommend our patients to rinse their mouth with warm salt water or mouthwash to remove any remaining polish or bits of plaque and calculus.
How should I schedule a dental hygiene appointment?
The best way to schedule a hygiene appointment is to call our office at (916) 848-2145