Teeth Cleaning Tips & Tricks for A Healthier Mouth
You’ve been brushing your teeth every day since you were a kid, so you know it’s important. It must be, if you have to brush twice a day and see the dentist every six months for a checkup! But even if you’ve been brushing for decades, you may be able to improve your technique – and your oral health! See a few of our top teeth cleaning tricks for a healthier mouth and a better oral care routine below. How To Brush Your Teeth Correctly Wondering how to properly brush your teeth? Follow these simple teeth cleaning steps for a healthier mouth. Rinse out your mouth – Rinsing with water or mouthwash helps remove debris and food particles, which can help you brush more efficiently. Floss first – You need to floss once per day. Flossing removes food and plaque from areas your toothbrush just can’t reach. You should floss before your brush to loosen food particles and improve the effectiveness of your brushing routine. Get the right toothbrush – Make sure to switch to a new toothbrush every 3-4 months. You can use an electric toothbrush or a manual toothbrush. Choose bristles with soft to medium stiffness. Toothbrushes with bristles that are too stiff can irritate your gums and damage your enamel! Brush often – You need to brush at least twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. For even better oral health, brush once after breakfast, once after lunch, and a final time after your last meal at night! Use proper brushing technique – Brush for at least 2 minutes, cleaning one quadrant of your mouth every 30 seconds. Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to clean your teeth and gums more effectively, and use short, tooth-wide strokes to clean each individual tooth for the best results. Maintaining A Healthy Diet for A Healthy Mouth You may know how to brush your teeth correctly, but your diet is also important for a healthy mouth. Do your best to limit your consumption of coffee, soda, and alcohol. The sugar, harsh dyes, and chemicals in these beverages can negatively affect your teeth. Water should always be your beverage of choice, and milk can help strengthen your teeth, too. When it comes to what you eat, avoid starchy and sugary snacks. Eat minimally-processed food like fruits and vegetables, which help “scrub” your teeth,” as well as lean meats, healthy dairy, and whole grains. As a rule of thumb, food that’s healthy for your body will likely also be healthy for your teeth! At-Home Care Isn’t Enough – Schedule A Dental Cleaning At Ascent Dental! With a dental cleaning at Ascent Dental, our team can eliminate surface stains, check for signs of tooth decay and gum disease, and buff and polish your teeth to keep your smile healthy. We use the latest technology to deliver excellent patient care in Cherry Creek, Denver, and we’re always accepting new patients, so contact us now to schedule your next six-month oral exam and teeth cleaning.
What To Expect From A Deep Teeth Cleaning
Deep Teeth Cleaning (Scaling & Root Planing) Have you been told that you need a dental deep cleaning? Wondering what to expect, and how the procedure works? Dental deep cleanings are necessary if you have gingivitis, which is the first stage of gum disease. In gum disease, bacteria builds up between your teeth and gums. Not all of this bacteria is visible. Some of it goes below your “gum line” and can’t be cleaned with brushing alone. If this is the case, your dentist will recommend a “deep cleaning” also known as “scaling & root planing” to eliminate the bacteria. Getting A Dental Deep Cleaning? What To Expect From The Process Your dentist will begin with a gum line check. Using a hand-held probe, they will measure the depth of the gum “pockets” where bacteria form. This ensures they clean deeply enough to remove the bacteria. Then, your dentist will go through the following steps: Numbing your gums – Your gums will be sprayed with a numbing agent, and a needle will be used to numb the area completely and prevent discomfort. Scaling away plaque & tartar – Your dentist will use a hand-held dental scaler to scrape away plaque and tartar from above and below your gum-line, eliminating the bacteria that cause gum disease. Applying antibiotics – Depending on your case, topical antibiotics may be placed on the tooth and inner gum to fight back against bacteria. Planing and smoothing the roots of your teeth – Using a planing tool, your periodontist will smooth out the root of the tooth, which helps prevent bacteria from forming between the teeth and gums. You may feel some discomfort during and after this process, as it is more invasive than the standard cleanings you would get as part of your regular six-month dental visits. Usually, only one half of the mouth is treated at each appointment, so you will need to come in for 2 appointments in most cases. You don’t have to do anything special to prepare for your appointment. Dress comfortably, and take over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever before the procedure if you are worried about pain and discomfort. The Benefits Of Dental Deep Cleanings When you get a dental deep cleaning from the doctors at Ascent Dental, you’ll enjoy a variety of benefits: Reverse or halt gum disease – The deep cleaning of teeth procedure, along with proper at-home oral care, can completely reverse first-stage gingivitis, and halt the progression of more advanced gum disease. Better breath – Eliminating oral bacteria helps prevent bad breath (halitosis), freshening your breath and boosting your confidence. Healthier smile – You can avoid gum inflammation, gum recession, and other oral health issues and keep your smile looking and feeling healthy. Prevent tooth decay – Destroying periodontal bacteria also helps prevent cavities and decay from forming, keeping your teeth strong. Need A Dental Deep Cleaning? Contact Ascent Dental Today Now that you know what to expect from a dental deep cleaning, you may be wondering if you can benefit from this procedure. To find out, just contact Ascent Dental for a consultation. We’re always accepting new patients, and we use the latest technology to deliver exceptional dental care in Cherry Creek, Denver.