If you haven’t visited a dentist recently, you’re not alone. Approximately half of the Australian population haven’t visited the dentist in the past 12 months, despite recommendations that you should get a scale and clean, and professional dental check up every 6 to 12 months.
Often, people think that because there are no apparent problems with their teeth there’s no need to visit the dentist. They think that 'no pain' means 'no problems'. After all, shouldn’t brushing and flossing be enough?
The reality is that, not only can a dentist pick up on oral hygiene problems early on and nip them in the bud before they become a big issue, and help control gum infection, the professional clean that accompanies every check-up removes the plaque and calculus that is impossible to remove with regular brushing and flossing. Neglecting this plaque and calculus can lead to a range of dental problems, from cavities to gum disease.
What Are the Benefits of a Regular Scale and Clean?
Plaque is the sticky film containing millions of bacteria that forms on your teeth everyday. If you’ve ever forgotten to brush your teeth one night and woken up feeling like your teeth are ‘fuzzy’ or ‘furry’, you’re probably feeling the bacterial plaque that has grown overnight.
When left on your teeth, plaque releases acids, which break down the enamel on your teeth and cause cavities. It can also cause gum disease as it settles along the gum line, releasing toxins and infecting your gums.
While brushing and flossing can get rid of a lot of bacterial plaque, it doesn’t get rid of it completely, especially in hard to reach areas of your mouth. If bacteria are left, it hardens and turns into calculus, also known as tartar. This calculus is impossible to remove with normal brushing and flossing and requires a professional scale and clean.
Regularly getting a scale and clean will help to protect your teeth from rotting, help prevent gum infection and jaw bone rot and can also remove stains so that you can have a bright white smile again. And who can go past that just professionally cleaned feeling of your teeth?
Signs of Poor Oral Hygiene
Not regularly visiting your dentist and getting a scale and clean can result in you having poor oral health. Common signs of bad dental health include:
- Your gums feeling swollen or tender
- Your gums bleeding when you brush or floss
- Sensitive teeth or toothache
- Your teeth feeling loose
- Bad breath that doesn’t go away after brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash
- Dark spots on your teeth
- Having an unpleasant taste in your mouth
- But most often you have little or no symptoms or a bit of bad breath or some bleeding on brushing and flossing and leaving bacteria on your teeth
Our Scale and Clean Process
A lot of people dread having their teeth scaled and cleaned and so avoid it at all costs. It can be an uncomfortable experience, but we find that if people know more about what the process involves and what to expect they are less apprehensive and nervous about it.
Our scale and clean process is performed by a dental hygienist who will help to make you feel at ease. The process involves:
- Using an ultrasound cleaner that gently sprays water to remove the plaque and tartar, followed by the use of hand-held instruments that remove any leftover deposits.
- Using a rubber cup with toothpaste to polish smooth the surface of your teeth while also removing any stains. This step makes your teeth look bright and sparkling while also protecting them from further plaque build-up and making them feel fantastic.
If you have especially sensitive teeth, topical anaesthetic gel can be used or if still sensitive or sore then local anaesthetic can be used to ensure you are comfortable throughout the process. If you suffer from any dental phobias, we also offer pain free and sleep dentistry to ensure that everyone gets the painless dental treatment they deserve.
Why Choose Our Scale and Clean Process?
As a holistic dentist, we take into consideration your overall health when treating your dental problems. This means we will never use products which may compromise any other aspect of your health just to provide you with a quick convenient fix for your teeth. We also work at getting to the bottom of the problem and addressing the cause, to ensure the problem doesn’t occur again, instead of just providing ‘bandaid’ treatments.
As a holistic dentist I concern myself with all the chemicals that you come into contact in my office and make sure they are the safest that exist. For example I make my own polishing paste for use in the surgery and refuse to use proprietary made polishing paste.
Our process also removes stains, so by regularly visiting us for a scale and clean you will have a beautifully white and bright smile. And if you want them whiter we can discuss whitening treatment.
We will help you to maintain your oral health outside of the dentist by providing you with all the information you need to have healthy oral hygiene home care habits. This includes teaching you how to properly brush and floss your teeth, as well as providing lifestyle and diet advice that could benefit your teeth and gums.
Contact Lifetime Dental Today
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