If you’re like most people, you might live in fear of teeth cleanings. There is a lot of prodding, weird noises, and some jaw discomfort. However, teeth cleaning is generally a simple and painless procedure. If you know what’s going to happen during the process, it can help set your mind at ease and allow you to sit back and enjoy the fresh and minty results.
Most of your teeth cleaning will be done by a dental hygienist at Bayside Family Dentistry in Bayside, NY. Before he begins the procedure, he will do a physical examination of your mouth. He will use a small mirror to look around your teeth and your gums for any symptoms of gingivitis or other concerns. If there are problems, he’ll call Doctor Aram Cazazian before proceeding.
Once the exam is done, the dentist at Bayside Family Dentistry will use the small mirror for guidance and a scaler that will remove plaque and tartar from your gum line and between your teeth. You might hear scraping, but this is perfectly normal. The more tartar that’s in your mouth, the more scraping they’ll need to do.
If you hate this part, then you should consider brushing your teeth more. This will remove the plaque before it can turn into tartar.
Once all the tartar is gone from your teeth, the dentist will then brush them with a high-powered electric toothbrush which causes a grinding sound. It might seem scary to you, but it’s a wonderful way to deep clean and get rid of any tartar that was left behind from the scaler.
The professional toothpaste used is grittier than what you use at home and is safe for use twice a year. You want to be gentler at home, so you don’t wear away the enamel.
The dentist will get deep down between your teeth with flossing and hit any potential problem areas where you might usually bleed at the gum. You might think you don’t need this if you floss already at home but letting the professional do it will remove any extra tartar that’s left behind during the cleaning process.
Finally, you will rinse your mouth out to get rid of any debris. This will usually contain liquid fluoride. The fluoride is used as a protectant for your teeth to help fight cavities for several months.