Professional teeth cleanings are essential because they can help you ensure your oral health is in tip-top shape and prevent serious issues down the road. Although professional dental cleanings may temporarily whiten your teeth and help you achieve those pearly whites you’ve always longed for, they are not substitutes for whitening procedures. Let’s take a closer look as to why this.
What to Expect During a Professional Teeth Cleaning
Professional dental cleanings, which are recommended twice a year, begin with the work of an experienced hygienist. A hygiene is responsible for using a small mirror to evaluate your teeth and gums and search for things like plaque, tartar, cavities, and gum disease. They may also use a tiny instrument known as a scaler to remove plaque and tartar from your mouth.
After this, they will likely use a high-tech electric toothbrush to deep clean your mouth. You may notice that the toothpaste they use is a bit grittier than the type of toothpaste you usually use at home. This special toothpaste will scrub your teeth and effectively remove any plaque and tartar missed by the scaler.
Lastly, the hygienist will floss your teeth and offer you a fluoride treatment so that you can protect your teeth from cavities for a few months. As soon as your professional dental cleaning has been completed, your dentist will examine your mouth and search for early signs of cavities, tooth decay, tooth damage, cysts, early signs of oral cancers, signs of teeth grinding, and more.
Dental cleanings can help you prevent cavities, tooth loss, and gum disease, freshen your breath, and provide you with a temporary brighter smile.
Ways to Whiten Teeth in Between Cleanings
Fortunately, there are certain strategies that can help you whiten your teeth in between bi-annual tooth cleanings. First, make sure you brush your teeth twice a day and floss once daily. It’s also a good idea to use a mouthwash after your teeth are brushed and flossed to remove any plaque and tartar.
You should also make an effort to stay away from certain foods and beverages that stain your teeth. Some examples of these foods and beverages include coffee, red grapes, tea, soda, and red wine. If possible, stick to water and light colored foods as they are less likely to cause tooth decay and won’t destroy your teeth.
If you are really serious about whitening your teeth in between cleanings, consider investing in professional tooth whitening services. Dentists like Lane & Associates offer Zoom teeth whitening, which can safely and effectively make your teeth up to 8 shades whiter.
Zoom usually takes an hour or less and is simple to perform. When you’re ready for this procedure, a dentist will cover your lips and gums, only leaving your teeth exposed. Then, they’ll apply the proprietary Zoom whitening gel and use the gel light to penetrate your teeth and remove any stains and discoloration.
The gel will be applied for 3 to 4, 15-minute sessions and you’ll be left with a whiter, brighter smile that you’ll be excited to show off to your friends, family, co-workers, and even random strangers.