Hygienic teeth cleaning: examples, advice from professionals

Anyone must take care of their oral cavity to avoid increased bacterial activity and dentin destruction. Dental teeth cleaning is becoming an increasingly popular service every year, since many patients have already received a snow-white smile and a renewed dentition.

When is the best time to have your teeth professionally cleaned?

You can tell when it’s time to see a doctor based on the following signs:

• an unpleasant putrid odor appeared from the mouth;
• the gums began to bleed, their subsidence was noticeable;
• itching or burning appears, pain is possible, especially when chewing food;
• tartar is visible visually;
• the color of the periodontium has changed.

Professional teeth cleaning will not harm your health, but there are contraindications:

• diseases of stomatitis, hepatitis, tuberculosis, as well as the presence of acute infections;
• the patient’s tooth enamel is too thin;
• intolerance to components used in cleaning;
• erosion, hypoplasia of tooth enamel.

Dental hygiene should not be done if the patient is under the age of eighteen. Professional hygiene is also contraindicated for HIV-infected people and AIDS patients. If there are diseases associated with difficulty breathing (asthma, epilepsy), sandblasting should not be carried out.

Comprehensive professional teeth cleaning

The hygienic procedure is carried out using various professional methods. In a dental clinic in Moscow, the professional technique is individual for everyone. Regardless of the choice, the procedure is carried out in several stages:

• The dentist examines the patient's oral cavity. Based on the examination, a treatment plan is drawn up. If teeth cleaning is needed, the types and methods are determined by the hygienist.
• Chemical cleaning and removal of soft plaque with a professional toothbrush is performed.
• Removing hard plaque depends on the professional method chosen.
• The dentist uses dental strips to clean the sides of the teeth and polish them.
• The enamel is polished on all sides, all irregularities are eliminated. For this purpose, dentistry uses special brushes and professional cleansers.
• Deep cleaning of teeth is completed by applying a solution containing fluoride to the surface. The composition is applied briefly. Professional fluoridation strengthens the enamel, since it is weakened by the action of tartar. Teeth should be fluoridated to reduce their sensitivity and to prevent caries. Fluoridation can be done as a separate procedure.

After the hygiene procedure, the dentist gives the patient recommendations for professional oral care. This allows the effect to last longer.

Indications and contraindications

Teeth cleaning in a dental clinic is recommended for everyone, but those people who:

• have installed permanent dental structures (braces, veneers, crowns, implants, etc.);
• are going to undergo professional teeth whitening;
• planning prosthetics or dental treatment;
• smoke;
• drink a lot of drinks that have a coloring effect (coffee, tea, etc.).

If there are certain health problems, a person cannot use any of the teeth cleaning methods offered by dentists, but if necessary, you can choose another option. For example, temporary contraindications include:

• inflammation of the oral mucosa;
• ARVI, bronchitis or other diseases that make nasal breathing difficult;
• pregnancy and breastfeeding period.

In such cases, professional teeth cleaning can be done after such reasons have ended.

General contraindications include the following health problems:

• arrhythmia and other heart diseases;
• asthma;
• increased sensitivity of teeth;
• allergic reactions;
• tuberculosis;
• hepatitis;
• various infectious diseases;
• epilepsy, etc.

Such manipulations are not performed on children and adolescents; if necessary, stone cleaning can be carried out if permanent teeth are present (over the age of 12 years).

Professional teeth cleaning with ultrasound

If you influence tartar with ultrasonic waves, the process of getting rid of it becomes quick. The advantage of the ultrasound method is its antimicrobial and antibacterial effects.

Ultrasound is safe. Professional attachments are put on the emitter. They effectively remove plaque even in hard-to-reach areas. The result is exfoliation of tartar and its partial destruction. This is relevant when removing it from gum pockets - their treatment with an instrument can be painful and traumatic.

Thanks to ultrasound, such professional teeth cleaning guarantees a gentle effect on tooth enamel.

The hygienic procedure begins with exposure to an ultrasonic scaler at an angle. High frequency vibrations of ultrasonic waves remove deposits from the surface. At the same time, a flow of liquid is supplied. Together with ultrasonic vibrations, plaque and stone remains are washed away from periodontal pockets and interdental space. Hard tissues are lightened.

One session is enough to remove hard and soft deposits. Ultrasound teeth cleaning has almost no disadvantages. Exceptions to the effects of ultrasound - several contraindications:

• the presence of a pacemaker, severe cardiovascular disease or acute renal and hepatic failure in the patient;
• significant demineralization of tooth enamel;
• Ultrasonic teeth cleaning is prohibited if there is caries, which manifests itself in the form of multiple destructions;
• purulent diseases of the oral mucosa;
• the presence of orthopedic structures, especially metal ones.

Ultrasonic teeth cleaning has advantages:

• the versatility of the method, which allows ultrasound to remove deposits even in hard-to-reach places;
• antibacterial effect;
• no discomfort or pain during professional cleaning.

Indications for use

Almost every adult needs ultrasonic teeth cleaning to prevent the formation of dental plaque, but there are categories that are recommended to perform the procedure first:

• Patients preparing for caries treatment and teeth whitening, installation of implants, braces, dentures;
• Patients after removal of braces;
• Patients with installed implants, crowns (special plastic attachments are used for cleaning);
• Patients diagnosed with gingivitis or periodontitis.

Cleaning teeth from plaque using the Air Flow method

Unlike the ultrasonic method, Air Flow is the effect of air flow together with an abrasive on hard plaque. The abrasive material is soda, which is applied along with a thin stream of water. Adding menthol or lemon flavors to water gives a refreshing effect. Small particles of soda hitting the enamel due to the air flow do not harm the teeth. They effectively cope with soft and hard plaque in gum pockets and interdental spaces.

Brushing your teeth with water reduces the heating of enamel during the hygiene procedure. This professional method helps in effectively removing plaque and tartar, and thoroughly polishes the enamel.

In addition to being used as a comprehensive approach, air brushing is suitable in the following cases:

• implants, crowns, and other orthodontic structures are installed in the mouth, as well as if braces or implantation are to be removed;
• problems with gums at the initial stage or there is plaque that has not yet turned into tartar;
• severe pigmentation of teeth due to smoking, coffee abuse and foods with dyes.

The professional Air Flow technique is safe and painless, has a gentle effect, and cannot cause an allergic reaction.

If preventive teeth cleaning is not carried out as part of a comprehensive procedure, the effect will be short-lived. For a more lasting result, it should be done about four times a year.

Types and differences

Professional teeth cleaning can be done in a variety of ways. Each of them has both advantages and disadvantages. The patient’s wishes are taken into account when choosing a technique, but the final decision is made by the doctor, taking into account contraindications and the condition of the teeth.

Ultrasonic

The most effective way to remove solid deposits is ultrasonic cleaning. With its help, tartar is removed. A special device is used for this: it can be built into the dental unit or made as a separate unit. This is an ultrasonic scaler.

There is a working nozzle at the tip of the device. Its tip makes oscillatory movements at an ultrasonic frequency of 25-50 kHz. Additionally, water or an antiseptic solution is supplied to the nozzle. They enhance the cleansing effect due to cavitation - vibrations of water dipoles with the formation of bubbles. Excess fluid is removed using a saliva ejector.

Ultrasonic cleaning, when carried out correctly, does not damage the enamel. It allows you to remove not only tartar, but also bacteria due to the supply of an antiseptic solution and the bactericidal effect of cavitation. Supra- and subgingival deposits are also removed. The procedure is absolutely painless and comfortable.

Laser teeth cleaning

Teeth cleaning with a laser is quick. The beam is directed onto the surface of the teeth, causing the water in the plaque to evaporate. Residues are washed off with a water jet under pressure.

Teeth cleaning with a laser requires expensive equipment. It is significantly higher in price than the others.

Sandblasting

Teeth cleaning by sandblasting is carried out using an Air Flow device. This is a modern and effective way to remove old plaque. For cleaning you need a device with attachments, a mixture of fine abrasive and a fixing gel. Cleansing powders are produced with pleasant flavors, which makes the procedure more comfortable.

Hygiene with Air Flow is not suitable for removing tartar. But the device copes well with old soft plaque. It does not harm enamel, but should be used with caution in people with sensitive gums.

What is laser teeth cleaning?

Laser therapy is based on the evaporation of liquid from plaque and deposits with a laser, after which the stones are destroyed layer by layer.

Hygienic laser cleaning does not involve contact of instruments with oral tissues. The professional technique is completely painless and has an antiseptic effect. The likelihood of an infection being introduced is zero.

Laser cleaning of teeth from stone gives the enamel a white color. Professional work effectively helps fight pathogenic bacteria and promotes wound regeneration. Prevention of caries is an additional advantage of the procedure. Contraindications to it are severe infectious and viral infections, asthma, epilepsy, as well as the presence of implants, orthopedic structures, and pacemakers in the patient.

A lasting effect will be ensured by teeth cleaning and fluoridation.

Manual teeth cleaning how the procedure is done

Dentists use the manual method as the last stage of a comprehensive hygiene procedure. It helps to manually remove the remains of tartar and plaque in places that are difficult to treat with dental instruments using ultrasound or laser techniques.

Manual hygienic cleaning of teeth is done using strips, curettes or dental floss. These instruments help the dentist eliminate mechanical and hardware processing errors in the space between teeth.

The use of polishing pastes enhances the effect.

Why do I need to have an examination and x-ray at my first visit?

Being one of the best dentistry in Krasnodar with more than 14 years of experience, Smile Clinic has developed its own principles to provide the best dental care to our patients. From the moment you enter our dental office, we take responsibility for your well-being. However, without x-ray vision, neither our hygienists nor our doctors can guarantee the health of your teeth. An old filling that appears healthy may have internal decay that cannot always be detected just by looking at the tooth. Periapical pathology that forms at the tip of a tooth root that may have been injured during a catch (or other contact game) cannot be diagnosed and will not be discovered until the nerve is dead, in which case you may end up root canal treatment or, even worse, removal of such a tooth.

Preventative care after comprehensive cleaning

Dentists consider bleeding gums and tooth sensitivity to cold and hot irritants after mechanical intervention to be normal. Usually these symptoms disappear after a few days. They are caused by damage to soft tissue. If they become inflamed as a result of treating subgingival areas, dentists recommend preventive treatment.

Mechanical brushing of teeth can also lead to irritation and swelling of the mucous membrane. On the first day after it, you should not consume foods with spices, dyes, coffee or tea. It is recommended to quit smoking.

The rule of hygiene is brushing your teeth before breakfast or after eating.

To strengthen the enamel and prevent the formation of deposits, the dentist applies professional products after the procedure. If your gums are inflamed or bleeding, you should not touch the inflamed areas with your hands. To maintain hygiene, it is better to use cotton swabs.

Brushing your teeth at home using a soft toothbrush and rinsing your mouth with decoctions of oak bark, chamomile or sage promotes rapid recovery. Dentists recommend brushing your teeth first and then having breakfast. In the evening, you should brush them just before going to bed. Additionally, you should use floss.

How to use thread?

We devoted a separate section to the use of dental floss, or floss, since many patients ignore this hygiene product or do not know how to use it correctly.

You need to take a thread about 45 cm long and wind most of it around your middle fingers. To clean, it is enough to leave a thread 2-3 cm long. Holding the thread between your thumbs and forefingers, carefully place it between your teeth and move it up and down. Then pay attention to the base of the tooth, making sure that the thread penetrates under the cervical part of the gum. Movements must be gentle to prevent damage to the gums. To remove the thread, lift it and move it back and forth.

Use a clean section of floss as you move from tooth to tooth. For the second jaw you need to take a new thread.

How and what to brush your teeth at home

There are many ways to maintain hygiene at home for preventive purposes. When choosing them, you can use your doctor’s recommendation or take into account your own preferences.

1. Brushing your teeth with toothpowder or paste using a regular toothbrush. The powder is suitable for daily hygiene after breakfast and before bed. The bristles of the brush should be of medium hardness. Preference should be given to artificial ones - microorganisms do not multiply on them. The powder loosens tartar and whitens the enamel.
2. Brushing your teeth with a sonic brush with replaceable heads allows you to remove plaque in hard-to-reach places. A sonic brush cannot cope with dense tartar. Its action is based on rotational pulsating movements. They allow you to gently loosen deposits and sweep them out of your teeth. An alternative option for a sonic brush is an ultrasonic one. It generates ultrasound, with which it removes plaque and neutralizes the harm of bacteria.
3. Brushing your teeth with an irrigator helps remove food debris after breakfast and removes plaque. The irrigator operates using a jet of water supplied under pressure. The device is easy to use. Professional attachments for the irrigator allow you to perform deep cleansing of areas that a toothbrush cannot penetrate.
4. Brushing your teeth with a brush makes it possible to efficiently clean the interdental space. The effectiveness of brushes is higher than that of toothpicks and floss. They are suitable for people with dentures or braces. The use of brushes prevents damage to gums and tooth enamel.
5. Brushing your teeth with ash will help make your smile snow-white. The ash must be rubbed into the teeth. After this, you can start cleaning. Using activated carbon or ash at home is the most inexpensive way to care for your oral cavity without visiting the dentist.
6. Brushing your teeth with clay helps with bleeding gums. Powdered clay is a natural product that does not contain harmful substances. Brushing your teeth with white clay is an effective way to remineralize and strengthen tooth enamel.
7. Brushing your teeth with coconut oil does not have a whitening effect. Coconut oil only destroys bacteria and returns the natural shade of enamel. Due to the beneficial properties of coconut, coconut oil strengthens gums, protects against caries, and eliminates bad breath. The main benefit of pulling coconut oil in your mouth is detoxification of the body.

Judging by patient reviews, hygienic teeth cleaning not only gets rid of plaque and stones. It prevents the development of caries and pathogenic microflora, and helps in the care of orthodontic structures.

Dentistry does not stand still. For patients with sensitive teeth who experience pain during brushing, the procedure is performed under local anesthesia.