“HOW IMPORTANT IS GETTING YOUR TEETH CLEANED BY A DENTIST”

Once you smile or even laugh other people will concern about the shape ,colour, and also the cleanness of your teeth. The human teeth vary in shape and size depending on their position within your mouth. They function in mechanically breaking down of food by cutting and crushing them in preparation for swallowing and digestion. Teeth also help us to talk, and to pronounce different sounds clearly. In addition to your teeth, the other important part is Gums [Gingiva]; Gums are part of the soft tissue lining of the mouth. They surround the teeth and provide a seal around them.

                

Teeth-Cleaning at Home

                                                                                      

It is easy to get your mouth and teeth clean and healthy as well. A simple routine is brushing your teeth for two minutes, twice a day with a toothpaste and cleaning between the teeth with dental floss. You should not be using a hard toothbrush, it is not the hardness of the toothbrush that effects the cleaning. It is mainly the technique.

Replace your brush regularly

You should replace your toothbrush every three to four months , or when the bristles are looking worn or spread apart. If you come down with the flu , cold sore or contagious illness buy a new toothbrush, even if it’s less than four months old, to avoid re-infecting yourself with the bacteria on your brush. Don’t ever share your toothbrush, even with your significant other. Then, when you are squeezing toothpaste onto your brush, ensure you don’t press the opening onto the bristles as this will also transfer bacteria.

How to use dental floss

1.     Break off a piece about 18 inches long. Wrap most of the floss around either the middle finger or the index finger of one hand, whichever you prefer, and a small amount onto the middle or index finger of the other hand. (Using the middle finger leaves your index finger free to manipulate the floss.)

2.     Gently slide the floss between the teeth in a zigzag motion and be careful not to let the floss snap or “pop” between teeth.

3.     Make a C shape with the floss as you wrap it around the tooth. Then carefully pull the floss upward from the gum line to the top of the tooth.

4.     As you move from one tooth to the next, unroll a fresh section of floss from the finger of one hand while rolling the used floss onto the finger of the other hand. Use your thumb as a guide. Reach both sides. Don’t forget to floss the back side of each tooth.

             

Teeth-Cleaning at a Dental Office

The American Dental Association recommends that you visit your dentist every Six-Month or at least once a year will help ensure a healthy mouth. Your dentist will use professional tools to remove plaque, tartar, stain  that you are generally unable to efficiently clean by yourself.                         

                           

If you have a history of gum disease, you should get your teeth cleaned more often in order to prevent the infections. You should also have your teeth cleaned more often if you suffer from systemic disease such as diabetes or heart disease due to their link to dental problems. If you smoke, you should consider quitting. Smoking can permanently stain your teeth and create other tooth and gum problems.

What is plaque?

Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that constantly coats your teeth. If not removed from the teeth, plaque hardens into dental calculus (also called tartar). Calculus builds up between teeth and between your teeth and gums, and can cause gums to become inflamed[swollen] or infected. The sticky, bacteria-filled plaque that causes gum disease tends to accumulate in the area along and just below the gum line. If you have gums that are slightly receded from your teeth, you may be at increased risk for gum disease and your dentist may recommend scaling

      

 How can plaque cause decay?

When you eat foods containing sugars, the bacteria in plaque produce acids, which attack tooth enamel. The stickiness of the plaque keeps these acids in contact with teeth. After constant acid attacks, the enamel covering the tooth breaks down forming a hole or cavity.

What are dental cleanings (scaling and polishing)?

             

* SCALING

Tooth scaling is the process of removing or eliminating dental plaque and calculus.  Dental scaling is the most common non-surgical way to treat gum disease. The dentist uses instruments to gently remove these deposits without harming the teeth. Dental cleanings involve removing plaque and tartar (calculus) deposits that have built up on the teeth over time.

There are two types of scaling instruments and some dentists may use both:

1. Scaling with hand-held instruments. Your dentist will use a dental scaler and curette to manually remove (scale) the plaque from the teeth.

2. Scaling with ultrasonic instruments. Ultrasonic scaling instruments clean plaque from the teeth with a vibrating metal tip that chips off the tartar and a water spray to wash it away and keep the tip cool. This technique is common used by the dentist lately.

Scaling with ultrasonic instruments

Commonly used is an ultrasonic instrument which uses to knock larger pieces of tartar. It also sprays a cooling mist of water while it works to wash away debris and keep the area at a proper temperature. The ultrasonic instrument tips are curved and rounded and are always kept in motion around the teeth. If you can’t bear with the sensations or the sound, it is best to inform the operator so that they can adjust the setting appropriately on the device or modify the pressure applied.

                          

Would it be painful?

Most people find that cleanings are painless, and find the sensations are like tickling. The feeling of pressure during the procedure doesn’t cause discomfort. There may be a humming sound, but many people don’t mind as they only last a nanosecond. A lot of people even report that they enjoy cleanings and the lovely smooth feel of their teeth afterwards.

* POLISHING

Once all the surfaces are clean, the dentist may polish your teeth. Polishing is usually carried out after scaling to remove stains and make your teeth feel smooth and shiny. Polishing is done using a slow speed handpiece with a soft rubber cup that spins on the end and prophylaxis paste . Futhermore your dentist may also apply fluoride, Fluoride comes in many different flavours such as : mint, strawberry, cherry, and so on. Fluoride gel is placed into small,  placed over the teeth for  30 seconds. Afterwards the patient is directed to spit as much out as possible. It is best not to eat, drink or rinse for 30 minutes after the fluoride has been applied. The fluoride helps to strengthen the teeth since the acids from bacteria in dental tartar and plaque will have weakened the surfaces.

              

 CONCLUSION

Since oral hygiene is very important; I’m writing these to inform you that carring about your teeth and gums are not an option, It’s a mandatory requirement in your life instead. A healthy smile can be a great asset so it makes sense to give your teeth the best care possible.

As one of a spokesperson for the American Dental Association [ADA] said: “You cannot be healthy with an unhealthy mouth any more than one can be healthy with an infected foot,” [Richard H. Price, DMD] (a former clinical instructor at the Boston university Dental School). Healthy Teeth for Healthy life.

Best Regards,

Drg. Ajeng Tito Indah Riani

‘’ Every tooth in a man’s head is more valuable than a diamond”                        [ Miguel de Cervantes]