Teeth Cleanings
You know that brushing and flossing your teeth daily is a must. But did you know that it’s not quite enough? Even with routine cleaning at home, your teeth need professional teeth cleanings regularly. At Southern Oaks Dental Care, our dentist in Beaumont, TX, offers this service as preventative care to protect your oral health.
What Is a Teeth Cleaning?
It’s a thorough cleaning that removes plaque and tartar from your teeth, reducing your risk of tooth decay and cavities. Your home care routine helps prevent these from building up on your teeth. But some can still accumulate, making it important to have our dental team do a cleaning.
What Are the Benefits of Having Your Teeth Cleaned?
These visits can give you peace of mind that your teeth are in good shape. Other benefits they provide include the following:
- Lower chance of having severe dental problems, like advanced gum disease and tooth decay
- Better health overall due to the connection between oral health and certain medical issues
- Lower dental care costs when you prevent severe problems
- Reduced risk of dealing with bad breath
- Improved smile and self-esteem, knowing you have clean, healthy teeth
What Happens During a Professional Dental Cleaning?
Having to come in for teeth cleanings in Beaumont, TX, can seem scary to some patients, especially if they’re not sure what to expect. Here’s what usually happens when you come in for one of these visits.
Plaque/Tartar Removal
Plaque is a sticky substance that can build up on your teeth and trigger decay. If you don’t brush enough, that plaque can turn into tartar — something that you can’t remove at home with any amount of brushing.
Our dental hygienists use tools to eliminate tartar and plaque from your teeth and around your gumline, protecting you from tooth decay and gum disease. The more you brush and floss at home, the less time they have to spend removing these substances from your teeth.
Tooth Enamel Polishing
What happens once your teeth are free of plaque and tartar? Our dental team moves on to brush and polish your teeth, giving them some shine to go with their freshly cleaned appearance! This also helps remove any traces of buildup that may be lingering.
After brushing and polishing your teeth, we rinse them off so you don’t have any toothpaste left on their surfaces. That leaves you with teeth that look and feel clean!
Preventive Services
Teeth cleanings don’t end with the actual cleaning. We may also include services that provide your teeth with added protection from oral health issues, such as fluoride treatment or sealants. Fluoride makes enamel stronger, while sealants protect back teeth from bacteria and plaque.
Exam
One of the main purposes of cleaning your teeth is to make it easier for our dentist to check for problems. This happens during the exam part of your visit. We look for any evidence that you might have tooth decay, gingivitis, gum disease, or other oral health issues.
We can get right to work addressing these issues, preventing them from turning into major ones that need costly, complex care. Once the exam’s done, you can ask our dentist for oral health advice before you leave.
How Often Do You Need a Teeth Cleaning?
For most people, that’s going to be twice a year. When you see us every six months, that allows us to get rid of tartar in time before it can cause issues. Waiting longer between visits means you’re risking tooth decay.
Some of our patients may need cleanings done more often, such as those with ongoing oral health problems or those who have medical issues that affect their teeth. We’ll let you know how frequently you need to come in for your own cleanings.
How Long Does a Dental Cleaning Take?
Wondering how long you’ll be here? These visits typically take at least 30 minutes, but it depends on how clean your teeth are when you come in. If you take good care of them at home, you can keep your cleaning appointments shorter overall! But they may take longer if you have a lot of plaque and tartar to remove.
How Can You Take Care of Your Teeth Between Professional Cleanings?
That’s the key to enjoying smooth, stress-free cleaning appointments! We recommend doing the following to keep your teeth as clean as possible before your next visit:
- Brush them twice a day or more
- Floss between your teeth at least once a day
- Eat foods that are good for teeth, like foods with calcium
- Avoid sticky, starchy, and/or sugary foods
Set Up a Teeth Cleaning Appointment Today for a Healthier Smile!
Time for your regular cleaning? Don’t miss out on keeping your teeth in the best condition possible! At Southern Oaks Dental Care, our dentist offers teeth cleanings in Beaumont, TX, helping you maintain healthy teeth and gums.
