Dental hygienists are highly trained professionals who provide essential oral healthcare services, such as teeth cleanings. Tasks performed by dental hygienists fall into these categories:
Although dental assistants typically assist dentists during dental procedures, some states allow dental hygienists with specialized training to extract teeth, place crowns, and perform other restorative dental procedures under a dentist’s supervision.
Teeth cleanings are typically straightforward and have minimal side effects, although you may have some short-term discomfort in your jaw from holding your mouth open during the procedure. Teeth cleanings typically take between 30 and 60 minutes; the amount of time required depends on the volume of plaque and tartar buildup and whether the dental checkup turns up any issues requiring further examination.
Your dental hygienist begins by examining your mouth using a small mirror. Your hygienist inspects your teeth and gums, looking for symptoms such as inflamed gums or other potential problems. During this examination, they note concerns about your oral health and document and report their findings. Your general dentist in Houston, TX, will follow up to determine if an issue requires treatment.
After the examination, the next step involves removing plaque and tartar. Dental hygienists perform this task using a tool called a dental scaler. Some people use manual dental scalers at home, but dental hygienists typically use ultrasonic scalers that vibrate. It’s normal to hear scraping sounds during this part of the teeth cleaning.
Once your dental hygienist has dealt with the plaque and tartar, their next step involves using an electric toothbrush to remove residue from your teeth. The next step involves using granular toothpaste to clean your teeth. The gritty texture is useful for gentle scrubbing of the teeth. Your hygienist has the skills needed to use this toothpaste safely without wearing down your tooth enamel.
Flossing your teeth follows your teeth cleaning and polishing. Flossing ensures all traces of plaque, tartar, and debris are removed.
Next, your dental hygienist will provide liquid fluoride so you can rinse out your mouth. After this step, your hygienist will provide fluoride treatment. This typically involves placing a foamy gel in a mouthpiece that’s placed over your teeth. After a minute, the fluoride treatment is removed, but the benefits last several months. This treatment helps prevent cavities. Your hygienist can also paint your teeth with a fluoride varnish.
Although deep teeth cleaning treatments help prevent issues, it’s crucial you take appropriate steps to care for your oral health. Your oral health care routine should include scheduling teeth cleanings twice a year. Teeth cleanings provided at URBN Dental are one of the most effective preventative oral treatments offered in Houston.
Teeth cleanings remove more plaque and tartar from your mouth than your daily dental hygiene practices can eliminate. Eliminating plaque and preventing tartar buildup reduces your risk of cavities and infections. Teeth cleanings also involve removing bacteria, which can cause various issues such as bad breath and tooth decay
You should schedule teeth cleaning if you have a higher risk of oral health issues or signs of oral health problems.
The following are reasons you have a higher risk of oral health issues and should invest in regular professional teeth cleanings:
Signs you need a professional teeth cleaning include the following:
Maintaining effective dental hygiene practices helps prevent cavities and other issues from arising. To care for your oral health, you should do the following:
Schedule teeth cleanings: See your dental hygienist for teeth cleanings every 180 days.
URBN Dental’s team of dental professionals includes highly trained dental hygienists who provide expert care to help you maintain your oral health. You can schedule your next teeth cleaning at a URBN Dental office near you and be confident your hygienist will perform a thorough inspection, provide a deep cleaning that protects your teeth, and ensure you leave our offices with a beautiful, healthy smile.
Regular teeth cleanings are an effective part of preventative care. Your dental hygienist will remove bacteria, which can cause issues such as bad breath. Keeping your breath smelling fresh will boost your confidence. Plus, your dental hygienist will remove plaque before it has a chance to harden and become tartar. Preventing tartar buildup can help prevent severe oral health issues such as infections, decay, and gum disease.
You do not have to wait before eating or drinking. You can enjoy a snack, beverage, or meal right after teeth cleaning unless your dentist instructs otherwise due to the fluoride treatment.
Brushing your teeth is an effective way to prevent plaque from hardening. Hardened plaque becomes tartar, contributing to bacterial growth and causing acid production in your mouth, damaging your tooth enamel. Since brushing regularly helps prevent this, it also helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
When you chew food, tiny particles can get trapped between your teeth. This can encourage bacterial growth, increasing the likelihood of plaque buildup. Brushing will not eliminate all these particles; flossing can extract them, helping prevent tooth decay and bacterial infections.
Infections can spread throughout your mouth and gums. When infections reach your gums, they can damage your jawbone. You may also lose teeth due to these infections. It’s also possible for infections to spread to your maxillary sinus and cause severe sinus problems.
Infections that begin in your mouth can spread throughout the body, causing brain abscesses. These infections can also restrict airways and cause breathing problems
Regular dental checkups ensure your dentist can identify oral health issues early. Early intervention offers two main benefits:
Your diet significantly impacts your oral health. While calcium strengthens teeth, consuming acidic foods can jeopardize your teeth. Regular consumption of acidic foods wears down your tooth enamel. Symptoms of excess acid consumption include the following:
Coffee is acidic and a common source of tooth discoloration.
Dry mouth increases your risks of bacterial growth, discoloration, gum disease, and plaque buildup. Things that cause dry mouth include the following:
Since coffee is acidic and contains caffeine, it causes dry mouth and jeopardizes the health of your teeth and gums.
URBN Dental has multiple locations in Houston, TX, including Uptown Houston, Midtown, Montrose, Tanglewood, East River, and Meyerland. This ensures you can find a dentist near you and receive expert dental care.
URBN Dental is a state-of-the-art dental clinic specializing in smile makeover procedures in Houston, TX. If you’re wondering about the cost of a smile makeover, please schedule a consultation with our cosmetic dentists in Uptown Houston, Midtown Houston, or Montrose.
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Dental Hygienists: What Dental Hygienists Do. (2024).
Scheve, T. (2024). What is a dental scaler?
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