What is proper dental hygiene?
Proper dental hygiene usually involves brushing your teeth, flossing, and using a water pick. But at the end of the day, it's not proper dental hygiene if you're not removing all the plaque bacteria and food byproducts that are on your teeth, between your teeth, and below the gum line. So technique is important. And using the right tool in the right way is important. And using it often enough is important. All those things lead to a healthy mouth. And at the end of the day, how healthy your mouth is, is a statement of how effective your oral hygiene is at home. So that's what we're here to help you with.
What can happen if I don't practice good dental hygiene?
If you don't practice good dental hygiene, then you're at risk of having gum problems that could lead to bleeding gums, a buildup of tartar, also called calculus, which is really just hardened plaque that was left behind. And then also, that can lead to decay. It can lead to bone loss. The reason people are missing any number of teeth is oftentimes, the majority of the time, it's because they didn't practice good hygiene for an extended period of their life.
What are the main duties of a dental hygienist?
The main duties of a dental hygienist are multifaceted. Number one is to observe the condition of your mouth and give you feedback on how effective your home hygiene is. Are you brushing well? Are you being effective? Are your gums bleeding? Is there buildup on the teeth? That's all important feedback for you to get from your dental hygienist so you can know what you're doing well and what the opportunities are to improve so that at the end of the day, you can take all the teeth to the grave when you're done with them.
What is involved in a dental cleaning?
Some people ask me, what is involved in a dental cleaning? At a dental cleaning, we're going to do a few things. The first thing we're going to do is evaluate the health of your gums. The hygienist is going to use a little measuring tool to go around every tooth and take six measurements to determine how deep are the pockets around the tooth. Every tooth has got a natural pocket. That pocket is healthy if it's somewhere between 1-3 mm deep with no bleeding. If we have any evidence of bleeding, then we know that you've been missing some of the plaque on a regular basis. Some people have amazingly clean teeth when they come in, but their gums are terribly inflamed, so they're the brush twice a year team, right? Floss twice a year. Some people say they floss twice a year when the hygienist does it for them. These are common statements. It sounds funny, and we make a joke of it, but a lot of people are honest, which we appreciate. But at the end of the day, we can tell the signs and symptoms of good home care by what we see as evidence in your mouth when you come in for your cleaning. We're not here to preach to you. We're here to help you, and giving you feedback on whether your technique is effective or not is really important. We appreciate that, and most people do. The folks that want to take all their teeth to the grave with them, they appreciate that, and they work hard at it.
Does a dental hygienist's teeth cleaning hurt?
The answer is, it depends. We try really hard not to have a painful cleaning. However, teeth that have had plaque and sugar and food byproducts left on them are under a tremendous amount of contact with acids that come from your diet, and that leads to much more sensitive teeth. So the process of getting a cleaning will be sensitive just like it would be you drinking cold water or having cold food or things like that. So if you have a lot of sensitivity in those areas, you may have some sensitivity while you get your teeth cleaned. If your gums are very inflamed, slightly infected, or really infected, those mouths are going to be a lot more tender to anything that we do. Getting them back to health is important to make sure that future cleanings are comfortable. A person who has a really healthy mouth and really good home care, no bleeding, no inflammation, no decay, minimal recession, that person never complains about their cleaning. They talk about how good it feels. So our hope is that we can get your health to that same level so that you don't have to worry about coming to the dentist and you can be high-fiving your dentist or your dental hygienist telling her how amazing she was and how great your mouth feels. It starts with good home care and good technique at home and your desire and willingness to implement the tools and tricks that we teach you on how to achieve that.
What is done by the dental hygienist during teeth cleaning?
Once we've checked the gums and determined your level of health and given you some feedback on what's working in your technique and what opportunities there are to improve, then she gets down to the business of actually getting your teeth clean so that you leave with a fresh, clean set of teeth and a healthy mouth. The first thing is she's going to discover any of the hard buildup that's on there. So plaque you left behind hardens with the minerals in your saliva and then turns into tartar if it's left there long enough. So that's the hard buildup on the teeth. She's going to remove that. She's got special tools that are designed to remove that, and a hygienist with any experience and concern for your comfort, she's going to practice really good technique to make sure that process is not painful. We've even got some electronic tools that are called ultrasonic instruments that vibrate at a really high frequency while squirting water and that'll remove it off very painlessly. Some people who have a lot of sensitivity may ask not to use that, and that's okay. A hygienist has multiple tools to use. Whatever needs to happen to keep you comfortable. But the important thing is we get the buildup off. It's like a splinter poking in the gums that keeps the gums infected. So that's got to come off and so she'll remove that and then after that's done she'll polish the teeth so they're really smooth and shiny, get off any stain, and then finish with a fluoride treatment that remineralizes the tooth structure after it's gone through six months of damage from all these acids in your diet and that will strengthen those teeth again and help prevent future cavities and control sensitivity.
How long does a dental cleaning take?
It's a little different depending on the situation. The more buildup you have the longer it's going to take. So if you have really good technique at home and you're not presenting with a lot of heavy stain and tartar then your dental cleaning the cleaning part of it may only take 20 minutes. Other times somebody comes in and they've got a ton of buildup and a ton of stain that same cleaning it's the same type of cleaning it may take 45 minutes 30 to 45 minutes depending on how much buildup there is. The important thing is is do the homework and it'll be faster and then always allow enough time for the dental hygienist to do her job. She's going to schedule in our office an hour for returning patients. If you can arrive on time and don't tell her when you get seated 20 minutes late that you need to be out in 15 minutes then she'll be able to do a good job. I say that because it is a common occurrence but always schedule enough time. Find out how long your appointment's going to be and allow that time so that your dental hygienist who wants to do a really good job has time to do a really good job to help you get healthy and stay healthy.
Why is it necessary to have a deep cleaning performed by the dental hygienist?
Deep cleanings, also called scaling and root planing, that's the technical term for it, common term is deep cleaning, that is a treatment for active gum infection. So if you come in and your pockets the windshield measures are 5, 6, 7 millimeters deep they bleed easily there's a lot of infection present that is not going to be helped by a traditional healthy mouth cleaning. Healthy mouth cleaning is for people who don't have active infection. Deep cleaning is for somebody who has active infection. They've got to go deeper under the gums to get to the bottom of the pocket, get the diseased tissue out, get the buildup out so that healing can commence and then followed by good home care to keep the healing progressing so that we can get you back to a state of health. That's the main reason for deep cleaning and it's very important for the person who doesn't want to lose their teeth.
I hope I've been helpful answering some of your questions about dental hygiene and if you have any more questions about that please call our office Village Dental Care at (972) 992-5223 or visit us online at www.VillageDentalDallas.com and check out our Google reviews as always and if you've had a great visit and you've enjoyed this please leave us a nice Google review.
Why is good dental hygiene so important?
Good dental hygiene is essential for a variety of reasons. Fundamentally, it is the basis of maintaining oral health. If our oral health declines, the first step in addressing any problems is to reestablish good dental hygiene or oral hygiene.
What can happen to my teeth and overall health if I don't practice good dental hygiene?
If you don't practice good dental hygiene, it can adversely affect both your dental and overall health. Poor dental hygiene allows plaque to accumulate on the teeth from food products, sugars, and processed foods. This layer, which is acidic and full of bacteria, inflames the gums, causing them to bleed. Bleeding gums indicate significant bacterial activity in the mouth, which can lead to bone loss around the teeth, cavities, and reduced longevity of dental work. Furthermore, poor dental hygiene has been linked to systemic health issues, as bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream through gum ulcers. Studies have shown that poor dental hygiene can reduce lifespan by up to 10 years. Therefore, maintaining good dental hygiene and regularly visiting your dentist and dental hygienist are crucial for overall health and longevity.
What are the most important components of a good dental hygiene program?
A good dental hygiene program has two main components: practicing good oral hygiene at home and regular professional care. Good oral hygiene involves using a good toothbrush with proper technique and flossing daily. Depending on your diet, you may need to brush and floss more frequently, especially if you consume sugary or processed foods. Additionally, using a Waterpik once a day can help remove plaque and food particles missed by brushing and flossing. This combination ensures thorough cleaning and significantly improves dental health.
How often should I have a dental exam and cleaning?
We recommend at least one dental exam per year and two cleanings. If you have a history of gum disease or bleeding gums, we suggest four cleanings per year to better control bacteria. Those with a history of cavities may need more than one exam per year. After stabilizing your oral health for a couple of years without gum problems or cavities, it is usually safe to reduce the frequency to one exam per year, along with at least two cleanings.
What does the dentist/hygienist do at a teeth cleaning appointment?
During a teeth cleaning appointment, often called a dental hygiene visit, several procedures are performed. X-rays are taken to evaluate bone levels and detect cavities. A thorough oral examination is conducted to identify any signs of cavities or deterioration of existing dental work. An oral cancer screening is also performed to check for any abnormal lumps, bumps, or discolored tissue. Ultimately, we aim to create a comprehensive plan to ensure your oral and overall health, assuming that every patient desires to maintain good health and a beautiful smile.
How long is a typical dental hygiene appointment?
The typical dental hygiene appointment lasts about an hour and a half for new patients due to the extra data collection and procedures. For returning patients, appointments usually take about an hour. However, if you have excellent home care, the appointment may be as short as 30 minutes. Conversely, if there are areas of concern, more time may be needed for thorough cleaning and guidance on improving technique.
How does a dental hygienist ensure that a dental cleaning isn't painful?
Our dental hygienists are dedicated to ensuring your comfort during the cleaning process. If you have healthy gums and minimal sensitivity, gentle techniques are usually sufficient. For those with more sensitivity or inflammation, numbing gels can be applied to reduce discomfort. In extreme cases, where patients have significant sensitivity, local anesthesia may be used. Additionally, we offer amenities such as neck pillows, fuzzy blankets, headphones, and Vaseline for the lips to enhance your comfort during the visit.
Will my teeth be more sensitive following a teeth cleaning?
In most cases, teeth do not become more sensitive after cleaning. However, if you have significant buildup and bleeding gums, you might experience short-term sensitivity due to exposed root areas. This sensitivity typically subsides within a couple of weeks as your mouth heals and you continue practicing good home care techniques.
How can I practice good dental hygiene at home?
Practicing good dental hygiene at home involves focusing your brushing at the gum line, both inside and outside of the teeth, and flossing after meals. Using pre-threaded floss picks is acceptable. Additionally, using a Waterpik once a day helps remove plaque and food particles missed by brushing and flossing, ensuring thorough oral hygiene.
How should I schedule an appointment?
To schedule a dental hygiene visit, simply call our number at (972) 992-5223, and our team will be happy to assist you. Alternatively, you can schedule an appointment on our website. We look forward to helping you.