Regular Cleaning and Deep Cleaning explained by Smile Symphony

Smile Symphony explains in this article all about regular dental cleanings and deep cleanings. Smile Symphony is a affordable dentist office in Lithia Springs, GA.

It’s important to maintain good oral health. Diseases within the mouth can have a major impact on the rest of your body if not treated properly. Regular and thorough teeth cleaning is vital to maintaining the health of your teeth and gums.

Sometimes you’ll hear the term “deep cleaning” used in relation to oral hygiene. Not many people are aware of what this is and how it differs from regular cleaning. We explain below the difference between the two.

What is a regular teeth cleaning?

Also known as oral prophylaxis, a regular cleaning is a procedure done before any decay appears, and helps maintain healthy gums.

A regular teeth cleaning procedure involves cleaning the bacteria, plaque and tartar buildup around the teeth on the surface of the teeth. In general, patients who brush and floss regularly get just a regular cleaning at the dentist office.

The dentists at Smile Symphony will take the necessary x-rays and do a comprehensive oral exam to determine what kind of cleaning is required. Then the dentist or the dental hygienist does a periodontal charting, which is the depth measurement around the gums will tell the situation of the gums.

Regular cleaning is done for patients with periodontal charting numbers 3 or below 3. Above 4 or 5 requires deep cleaning.

What is "Deep cleaning"?

Deep cleaning is used when periodontitis, or gum disease, is detected in the mouth. There is a slight gap between the gum and the root of the tooth in everyone, which can be up to 3 millimeters deep in healthy gums.

People who have periodontitis instead have “pockets” that are 5mm deep or more. These pockets between gum and tooth collect bacteria, slowly cause the tooth to become loose, and bone to deteriorate.

Gum disease can have many causes, such as poor hygiene, excess plaque buildup, smoking, genetic predisposition, and even as a result of certain medications or medical treatments.

There are two parts to a deep cleaning: scaling and root-planing. Scaling is the removal of plaque and tartar buildup from the surface of the tooth, and inside the pocket. There are many tools that can be used including lasers, ultrasonic instruments and manual scraping tools called scalers.

The second part of deep cleaning is root-planing; it involves removing buildup from the root of the tooth. This requires going deep into the gum pocket.

A gum pocket can be formed when there is a large amount of bacteria and tartar under the gum.

Deep cleaning typically involves two appointments plus a follow-up to monitor the health of your mouth. If you’re taking good care of your mouth after your treatment, you shouldn’t need to worry about any recurrence of the gum disease.

At-home cleaning

Regularly cleaning helps to prevent plaque building up on your teeth. Plaque buildup can lead to periodontitis, or gum disease, which can ultimately result in missing teeth, lost bone, and even cardiovascular problems.

Brushing your teeth both helps remove tartar and stop it building up. Flossing cleans the hard-to-reach areas between your teeth that can easily trap food and feed bacteria. Done regularly, they’ll keep you in good oral health and prevent issues such as gum disease.

Professional teeth cleaning

A certified dental hygienist does a professional dental cleaning by removing the plaque and tartar. Even if patients brush and floss regularly, they can still develop tartar. Only regular professional dental cleanings can fully maintain healthy gums and teeth.

Generally, a dentist or the dental hygienist will let you know how often you have to get your teeth cleaned professionally. For most patients, every 6 months is recommended for regular teeth cleanings, and every 3 months for deep cleaning patients.

What happens if teeth are not cleaned?

1. Bacteria in the plaque can cause periodontal disease
2. Bacteria in the plaque can cause tooth decay
3. Built up plaque and tartar can cause stains and discoloration
4. Plaque and tartar can cause bad breath
5. Tobacco stains and food stains develop

Oral hygiene instructions

1. BRUSH your teeth twice a day
2. FLOSS your teeth at least once a day
3. USE FLUORIDE TOOTH PASTE to brush your teeth
4. MOUTH WASH at least once a day
5. LIMIT SNACKS and eat a HEALTHY DIET
6. Visit Smile Symphony Dentist regularly