regular teeth cleaning Archives | Sterling Heights Dentist, Dr. Farhat of Dental 1 Care

The holidays are just around the corner! While you may be excited about holiday activities, now is the time to have your teeth cleaned by a professional at Dental One Care in Sterling Heights, MI. Keep reading to discover why right before the holidays is the best time to get your teeth cleaned professionally.

The Importance of Regular Teeth Cleanings

Dentists in Sterling Heights MI recommend that you get teeth cleaning services by a professional at least once every six months. These cleanings come with several advantages, such as checking for gum disease.

Dr. Fardi Farhat, an orthodontist in Sterling Heights, MI, adds that regular cleanings at Dental One Care help get rid of plaque and calculus. Not all plaque and calculus can be removed during your oral hygiene activities at home. The plaque that forms beneath the gum line is particularly problematic because it can cause dental infections leading to tooth loss.

Regular dental cleanings at Dental One Care also provide an opportunity for our team to give you advice on various issues related to your dental health. This is especially important with the upcoming holidays, likely putting your dental health at risk.

The Teeth Cleaning Process

When you visit Dental One Care in Sterling Heights, MI, to have your teeth cleaned, the hygienist will start with examining your gums and teeth using an overhead light. If the hygienist observes anything of concern, he or she will bring it to the attention of Dr. Fardi Farhat.

Once the inspection is completed, the hygienist will use special tools to brush and floss your teeth. The cleaning agent used during this process is stronger than the toothpaste you use at home, so your teeth will be cleaned thoroughly.

Any stains on your teeth will also be removed during this teeth whitening unless they are intrinsic stains that cannot be removed by abrasive tools or agents.

For people with dentures, the dental cleaning process at Dental One Care will involve cleaning and adjusting those dentures. By the end, the dentures will be clean and fit properly.

When necessary, a fluoride treatment will be administered to give your teeth added protection against cavities and tooth decay.

If you have other dental work, like dental crowns or fillings, the hygienist in Sterling Heights will polish that dental work.

Educational Instructions During Teeth Cleaning

Your dental hygienist at Dental One Care in Sterling Heights MI will also give you some educational information relevant to your dental health. This could include the following categories of information;

Nutritional Advice. This advice will be given to you to ensure that you avoid excessive holiday treats and drinks that could be detrimental to your dental health. Getting more of the foods and drinks that are beneficial to your dental and overall health is more important.

Proper Brushing and Flossing Techniques. The hygienist may have noticed that certain parts of your teeth aren’t being cleaned appropriately as you brush and floss. Thus, he or she may advise you on how to improve your technique. An improved technique will help clean all the surfaces of the teeth adequately.

Counseling on Tobacco Use. If you are a smoker or use other forms of tobacco (snuff, for example), the educational instructions that you receive may include counseling about the dental risks associated with this habit.

Dental Evaluation

Once the hygienist finishes, Dr. Fardi Farhat will come and evaluate your teeth. He will identify cavities and any other dental problems you may be having. The Sterling Heights MI dentist will then suggest a follow-up visit to monitor any potential problems. He may schedule a visit to treat the problem found.

When the dental cleaning process finishes, you are free to go and start enjoying the holidays! Keep in mind all the advice given regarding how to safeguard your teeth from all the holiday sweets and delicacies. After the holidays, pay Dental One Care a visit so that Dr. Fardi Farhat can assess and fix any damage your teeth sustained during the holidays before the problems worsen.

Why it’s important to Schedule Regular Dental Visits

Here’s a sad but true fact: Tartar and cavities can still develop even for people who diligently follow strict dental care routines at home. That’s because certain types of bacteria can’t be eliminated by brushing and flossing alone. Moreover, some areas of the mouth can be hard to reach, so food particles can get stuck there even with routine teeth cleaning. These particles eventually turn into plaque and tartar, which in turn can easily worsen into cavities or worse, periodontal disease (gum disease).

To avoid that unfortunate situation, you’ll need the help and services of your dentist. Scheduling regular dental visits and investing in professional dental cleaning are the only ways to ensure your mouth, teeth and gums stay strong and healthy and are free from cavities, tartar and plaque deposits.

Professional teeth cleaning is typically provided in two ways:

Regular teeth cleaning or a more detailed deep teeth cleaning. To know which type of cleaning you need for each visit, your dentist will conduct a diagnostic test that will involve getting the measurements of the gap between your teeth and gums. If that space is just under the range of “4,” then regular cleaning will be sufficient. If you get measurements that are 4 and above, then the dentist will most likely order a deep cleaning procedure for you.

Regular teeth cleaning entails the thorough cleaning of your teeth, gums and the spaces between them. The objective for this type of dental cleaning is to simply maintain the health of your teeth and gums, as well as detect and address potential problems, if any. This is typically the appointment you schedule twice a year that is covered by your dental insurance plan.

Deep teeth cleaning also focuses on cleaning the spaces between the teeth and gums. The main difference is that the space between your teeth is considerably deeper and/or wider – that’s why they’re called “pockets.” Naturally, cleaning these pockets to remove deep-seated build-up is far more complicated than the process used in regular cleaning. Deep cleaning may take a longer time, and more advanced instruments and procedures may be used to ensure the pockets are indeed cleared of bacteria and other disease-causing elements. Don’t let this procedure scare you, it is relatively routine and can be performed in the same visit.

A strong commitment to dental health is vital to truly getting the most out of professional dental cleanings. It’s important to schedule an appointment for a teeth cleaning with your local Sterling Heights dentist at least every six months. You also should be prepared to compliment the work done by your dentist or hygienist with regular brushing and flossing, smart food choices, as well as habits and lifestyle preferences that promote best dental health practices. At Dental 1 Care, we regularly discuss the mouth to body connection when it comes to the longevity of your pearly whites and regular dental visits is a big part of that. Nothing beats the feeling of having professionally and newly cleaned teeth, so make sure to maintain its great condition with responsible tooth and gum care at home, all year-round.