Teeth Cleaning In Mississauga
Hundreds of bacterial organisms can live in your mouth and many of those that land on your teeth grow and cause cavities and other problems. Teeth cleanings reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth as well as get rid of sticky plaque and tartar while making your mouth feel fresh.
Two types of cleaning are available at your Mississauga dentist. The most common type of cleaning is the basic removal of plaque and tartar by a certified hygienist. This doesn’t involve injected anesthesia but they may use a topical numbing medicine.
The other type of cleaning is deep tooth cleaning. This is when the hygienist or dentist uses a tool to scrape plaque and tartar from below the gumline. This requires both topical and local anesthesia.
Why Would Someone Need a Deep Tooth Cleaning?
Those who are recommended for a deep tooth cleaning are those who have an excessive amount of plaque and tartar on their teeth and who may have issues like gingivitis or a receding gum line. Deep tooth cleanings can resolve these types of issues. Those who have these issues should:
- See their dentist more often than twice a year
- Schedule an additional cleaning in between the twice-yearly exams and cleanings
- Ask your dentist about toothpaste and mouthwash that can reduce plaque and tartar.
- Floss more than once a day to remove debris from between teeth
What Happens During a Cleaning?
Dental cleanings are mostly associated with regular dental exams, which you should have twice a year. They will be done after X-rays and before the dentist sees you for an exam. In some cases, more advanced cleaning techniques may be used so the dentist can see properly for an exam.
Sugary Foods Cause Plaque
Those who want to have better oral health should look to changing their diet a little. Sugary foods and especially sugar-filled beverages can result in a lot of plaque, tartar, and cavities. Crunchy foods, like apples, carrots, and broccoli, act as scrubbers to remove plaque and debris from teeth.
Mouth Breathing Causes Plaque
A relatively new discovery by health professionals is that those who breathe through their mouths tend to have more plaque than those who aren’t mouth-breathers. The idea is that air dries out the mouth and that leads to more plaque and tartar.
A Lack of Conscienscous Hygiene
Those who have chronic problems with plaque and tartar may be told by the dentist that they have bad oral hygiene. That can make you embarrassed but it doesn’t hurt to look at your habits. Even those who brush their teeth twice a day may not be taking the time to brush them properly and many people forget to floss. Changing just a few habits can make a difference for your teeth.
