Professional Cleaning: Removing Plaque And Tartar Buildup

Protecting our oral health maintains our smile’s health throughout our entire life. Tartar buildup affects numerous people worldwide, creating significant dental problems when it becomes untreatable. Professional teeth cleanings at tartar and plaque removal services effectively prevent and control tartar buildup, which helps keep mouths healthy.

This content discusses the underlying reasons for tartar and plaque buildup and its effects, describes how certified teeth cleanings help remove debris, addresses steps for adapting before and afterward, and adds prevention strategies and doubts users have about professional cleaning methods.

What’s plaque?

When people think of dental plaque, they consistently mention having it on their tooth surfaces. Because of this sticky soft film’s dangerous nature, people avoid bacterial interactions with food and saliva on their teeth.

Following the consumption of food or beverages, some toxins produce acid compounds. Tartar formation becomes especially harmful to teeth after you consume anything containing sugar, no matter the form, whether raw or processed or sugary drinks.

What’s tartar?

Oral hygiene is a top priority because it stops the formation of a damaging substance known as tartar. Plaque enters an extended residence period when tooth care, such as brushing and daily flossing, is not performed.

When interacting with these particles, saliva creates a mineral emulsion, which develops into tartar plus calculus.

The Benefits of Removing Plaque and Tartar

Plaque and tartar removal has numerous benefits, including:

• Prevents tooth decay and cavities
• Prevents gum disease
• Reduces bad breath
• It helps to maintain teeth’ appearance alongside their cleaning comfort.
• Maintains overall dental health

When is Plaque and Tartar Removal Necessary

• People who smoke or use tobacco
• People with braces or other dental appliances
• People with a history of gum disease or cavities
• People with a diet high in sugar or carbohydrates
• People who have a dry mouth

Causes of Dental Plaque and Tartar

When saliva, food, and fluids mix with oral bacteria, plaque forms on the teeth and at the gum line where teeth and gums meet. Some foods trigger the development of the above dental plaque formation and growth. It includes those foods that contain carbohydrates of sugar and starches, such as soft drinks, candies, etc.

Consumption of starchy and sugary products such as cakes, sweets, and fruits results in excessive plaque bacteria. Plaque-producing bacteria result in gingivitis caries and aggressive gum disease, so dental treatment and control methods are required. Although total prevention is impossible, dental hygiene practices will help minimize its formation.

Your professional dental cleaning consists of various steps:

1. A physical exam
A dental hygienist begins with a thorough examination of your mouth. Using a small mirror, they assess your teeth and gums for signs of gingivitis or other potential dental problems. This initial check ensures a comprehensive understanding of your oral health before starting the actual cleaning process. If any significant issues are identified, the hygienist will consult a dentist for further evaluation before proceeding.

2. Removing plaque and tartar
The dental hygienist has access to an otoscope to guide them during their removal of plaque and tartar from your gum line and spaces between your teeth using a scaler while you will hear normal scraping sounds. The time required to remove specific spots gets longer when there is more tartar buildup in your mouth.

Brushing teeth and flossing protects your teeth from plaque formation, which ultimately becomes tartar. If you develop tartar in your mouth, your only option is to visit your dentist. They will suggest you brush your teeth more often because your lack of the teeth-cleaning process reveals poor oral care habits.

3. Gritty toothpaste cleaning
At the end of tartar removal, the hygienist employs an electric toothbrush to brush your teeth while making persistent grinding noises. Hearing the scraping noise can be intimidating, yet this technique provides strong, deep tooth cleaning even when the scaler doesn’t remove all the tartar deposits.

You’ll encounter toothpaste with familiar scents and flavors during your dental appointment, often chosen from various options. This toothpaste, paired with a mildly abrasive surface, is used to polish your teeth gently. Dental professionals perform this procedure safely during biannual visits, ensuring effective cleaning. While professional polishing delivers outstanding results, it’s essential to use a softer technique for at-home care, as aggressive brushing can lead to enamel erosion.

4. Expert flossing
Going to dental professionals for flossing offers results that surpass all other methods of brushing or flossing between your teeth. Your dental hygienist reaches deep between your teeth through their expertise to find potential bleeding areas within your gum tissue.
Professional flossing offers another vital benefit than regular home flossing, clearing any remaining plaque.

5. Rinsing
Your dental hygienist provides a liquid fluoride solution for you to use to rinse your mouth completely to stay away from debris.

6. Applying fluoride treatment
Your mouth undergoes fluoride treatment as an ending component of the complete cleaning procedure. Professional fluoride treatments serve as dental protection for your teeth while actively fighting cavities for months. Your hygienist usually asks for your preferred mouthwash taste before they insert the gel through a mouthpiece tool over your teeth.

The fluoride stays on your teeth for precisely sixty seconds. After foamy gel treatment, the dental practitioner uses a small brush to apply fluoride varnish. Fluoride varnish sets as it meets saliva so you can consume food or drink immediately.

Post-Cleaning Care and Maintenance
The benefits of tartar removal treatments should last longer with proper post-treatment oral hygiene since it keeps new tartar from forming. Brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste twice every day.

Daily flossing will clean plaque and prevent it from staying between your teeth. A daily routine with antimicrobial mouthwash and dental rinse helps fight bacteria while improving oral health and getting appointments with your dentist once a year functions to protect your dental health.

Conclusion

Removing accumulated plaque and hardened tartar remains a central requirement for upholding optimal oral hygiene. Proper dental care habits and regular teeth cleanings help minimize plaque development, prevent cavities, and protect your gums from disease. Visit your dentist at Rockdale Dental Clinic twice yearly and implement their recommended dental practices to preserve excellent oral health.