As your next dental cleaning quickly approaches, you may find yourself brushing and flossing more frequently and thoroughly than you typically would. You want to ensure your teeth look their best before entering your dentist’s office. However, this effort often isn’t enough to prevent plaque and tartar buildup beneath your gum line.
When your dental hygienist begins examining your mouth, they may determine that a standard cleaning isn’t sufficient and you’ll need a deep cleaning. Sometimes, you may consider turning down this service and foregoing the cleaning altogether due to fear of the cost and discomfort. But this decision can have long-lasting consequences on your oral health.
If your dental team has recently recommended a deep cleaning, keep reading to learn why it’s best to go through with this much-needed service.
What Are Deep Cleanings?
While the service is often referred to as a deep cleaning, a better term for this is root planing and scaling. During this process, your dental hygienist will use a variety of instruments, including ultrasonic scaling devices, to gently remove plaque and tartar buildup on your teeth and beneath the gumline.
But how is this different from a standard teeth cleaning, as your hygienist also removes plaque and tartar during this service? During a cleaning, your team focuses on the plaque buildup above your gumline. As this debris makes its way into gum pockets, standard cleanings are no longer equipped to address it and require more intensive cleaning.
Over time, plaque and tartar calcify on the surface of your tooth and cannot be easily removed through standard brushing and flossing. If your dental team recommended a deep cleaning, it is essential that you follow through with treatment. This buildup causes bleeding gums, swelling, and redness. Once you experience these symptoms, standard cleanings won’t remedy them.
The Risk of Putting Off Deep Cleanings
Although you may feel tempted to put off a suggested deep cleaning, choosing to do this can have dire consequences on your oral health. Some of the biggest risks of putting off this service include:
Development of Periodontal Disease
With severe plaque and tartar buildup on your teeth, your gums become irritated and inflamed. As this buildup goes unaddressed, it may begin attacking the bones and ligaments surrounding your teeth, which pushes you from a minor gingivitis diagnosis to the development of more severe and irreversible periodontal disease.
Other Health Complications
Periodontal disease isn’t the only health complication you face when avoiding scheduling a deep cleaning. Oral health conditions like gingivitis and cavities caused by inadequate cleanings are known to impact heart health and may be tied to diabetes diagnoses. Additionally, if you experience severe infection, you are at risk of developing sepsis, a life-threatening condition.
Tooth Loss
As your plaque and tartar buildup, the accompanying bacteria attack the structures surrounding your teeth. In addition to harming your gum tissue, this bacteria may be responsible for the deterioration of your jawbone. As the bacteria slowly eat it away, you’re at an increased risk of developing loose teeth or tooth loss.
Why Are These Cleanings Split Into Multiple Appointments?
If your dental team has suggested a deep cleaning, they may need to schedule this across two or more appointments. When dealing with more severe plaque and tartar buildup on your teeth and under your gums, removal can be incredibly uncomfortable, even when you utilize the best oral anesthetic products.
By splitting your cleaning into two appointments, your hygienist provides a more comfortable cleaning experience. Additionally, this gives them adequate time to focus on cleaning the surface of every tooth and beneath the gums. This appointment is typically one to two hours long. With an hour or more to address your buildup, they can focus on potential problem areas.
Finally, splitting up the appointments allows your gums adequate time to heal. Your mouth may be more sensitive following a deep cleaning. By spacing out these appointments, you have time to recover before jumping into the next portion of your cleaning. While this may not seem time-efficient, it is the best way to ensure a healthy smile.
Will You Always Need Deep Cleanings?
When your dental hygienist recommends a deep cleaning, you may worry that you’ll always need to schedule this service. While you may be concerned that you can’t escape continual root planing and scaling services, you can avoid going through this again. Some things you can do to ensure you don’t have to go through this process again include:
- Schedule twice-yearly dental cleanings, or more regularly if recommended.
- Brush thoroughly twice daily for at least two minutes.
- Floss around every tooth and ensure you get beneath your gumline.
- Incorporate an antimicrobial oral rinse into your everyday oral routine.
- Avoid using tobacco products, as they increase your risk of developing gingivitis.
- Limit your consumption of sugary and starchy foods and beverages.
By following these steps and taking any advice provided by your dental team, you can protect your teeth from cavities and gum disease, and prevent the need for additional deep cleanings. Your oral health is a long-term investment, and taking the appropriate actions to protect your smile will make a major difference down the road.
Your Best Dental Cleaning in Mills River, NC
Deep cleanings may seem daunting, but they are the best way to begin your journey toward achieving a healthier smile. If you need to schedule a dental cleaning in the Mills River, North Carolina, area, turn to our team at Mills River Family Dental for support. Since 2003, our team has provided comprehensive treatment to patients across the city.
Whether you’re experiencing severe gum disease, minor cavities, or want advice to improve oral health, we’re here to provide you with essential guidance and support. With our expert team of dentists and dental hygienists on your side, you can trust that your teeth won’t just look their best; they’ll also feel better than ever before. If you’d like to schedule a teeth cleaning with our team or have questions about our services, don’t hesitate to contact us today.
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