When talking about oral hygiene, there are several things we all know to do to avoid going to the dentist. We brush twice a day for five minutes, we floss once a day, and we avoid eating sticky, sugary foods. In short, we do the preventive medicine required for minimal oral health.
Part of this bare minimum includes making sensible food choices. Any foods that augment muscle and bone growth are generally recommended for teeth and gums. A common sense diet rich in B Vitamins, calcium, manganese, zinc, Vitamin C is recommended, while excess glucose (and other sugars) should be avoided.
Scaling is simply the removal of plaque, and traditionally it involved scraping the excess tartar from the teeth using dental instruments, and is done manually. However, recent technological advancements have increased the scope of scaling.
Routine dental cleanings are your first line of defense against oral cancers, gum disease, ulceration, and easily avoidable oral health problems such as bad breath (halitosis), gingivitis, tartar (calculus) buildup, and tooth decay. While brushing and flossing alone can remove as much as 70% of the plaque on your teeth, the other 30% lurks in areas that are harder to reach, and professional cleanings are the most sensible preventive medicine.
The main thing your dentist will do is clean your teeth and gums. This sounds simple, but as gum disease accounts for about 35% of adult tooth loss, prevention is still the best medicine. Good dentists will also recommend that you clean your tongue, a practice also espoused in Ayurvedic (East Indian) medicine as a vital health practice. Tongue cleaning gets rid of the layer of bacteria, fungi, and decaying food cells that regularly enshroud the tongue.
If a child's teeth are developing normally, this visit can be put off longer. However, if the tendency toward developing cavities is deemed to be genetic, so if the parents have had a history of cavities, it is better to get the child into a dentist earlier, in order to establish a sensible oral hygiene routine. Also, children whose teeth show staining, crowding, or other abnormalities should go to a dentist before the age of three.
Root planning is basically gum work, the cleaning of pockets to prevent further development of periodontal or gum disease. When gums are inflamed, the pockets tend to become deeper, making it much easier for them to trap plaque deposits, further worsening the condition of the gums. Root planning can sometimes be a painful process requiring local anesthesia.
Polishing is the final step of a good dental cleaning. Prophy jet polishing works but spraying powered water mixed with baking soda on the teeth. The powered water helps remove any excess plaque, and the baking soda neutralizes acidic conditions in the mouth while simultaneously fighting stains. Your dentist is equipped with the knowledge and the technology to optimize your own personal dental hygiene program for maximum success. So, please, every six months, get thee to a dentist!
About the Author:
Sally actually knows what she is talking about. You can find more about dental deep cleaning and deep cleaning teeth here.
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