We encourage all of our patients to visit us on a regular basis for a dental check up and clean to have their teeth examined and to receive a comprehensive teeth scale. Early diagnosis of a dental or oral problem can make treatment less difficult and less expensive. Long term results will also be more effective.
At your regular check-up you will undergo dental cleaning and scaling, beginning with a physical exam, where a dentist checks your teeth and gums for issues or damage. After that, a dental scaling removes plaque and tartar around and between your teeth. Everything is rounded off with a dental cleaning, where your dentist will use a gritty toothpaste that scrubs and polishes your teeth after all tartar is removed.
Plaque forms on teeth very quickly, and if not removed can lead to acids attacking the teeth causing dental decay. If left on teeth plaque will also form tartar, which is what the dentist removes when performing a dentist check up and clean. When tartar is not removed, it hardens on your teeth and promotes staining, bad breath, gum disease, and overall tooth decay.
Nothing replaces a dental clean, but looking after your teeth at home can help to ensure their health and longevity. Begin by rinsing your mouth, then add a pea-sized dab of toothpaste onto your brush. Tilt your brush at a 45 degree angle and gently move it back and forth with short strokes on the outer surfaces of your teeth. Then brush the inner surfaces using the same motion, and finally the chewing surfaces. Finish by brushing your tongue, which helps freshen your breath and remove bacteria.
Follow this with flossing. All you need to do is wind around 40cm of floss between your middle fingers and slide the thread up and down gently between your teeth, and around the base of each tooth. It may be a bit tricky to reach your back teeth when you are just starting to floss, but it is worthwhile learning how and making sure that all of your teeth receive equal treatment. Have a chat with one of our dental hygienists if you need more tips and tricks.
Your teeth play a lifelong important role and need close care to maintain their health. Book a dentist check up with your local dentist to regularly clean and scale teeth, ensuring they stay in their best shape, and follow our tips for clean teeth to ensure good oral health.
Because of the grittiness of the toothpaste used in professional teeth cleaning, it’s advised to go for a dentist clean every six months, and not any more regularly. Your dentist will advise if they need to see you sooner for any other reasons, but a six-monthly dentist check up and clean is good practice for everyone.
Excessive brushing can actually damage your teeth and gums! Over-brushing can occur when you brush your teeth for too long or too often, but also when you brush them too vigorously. These practices can wear down your enamel, make your teeth more sensitive and make your gums puffy and swollen.
If you don’t clean your teeth, plaque will develop and progressively break down your tooth enamel. Other issues like bad breath and disease will begin to grow, and you may need dental work like crowns and root canals. Eventually, leaving your teeth uncleaned will lead to decay and tooth loss.
After brushing and flossing, using a bit of mouthwash can help reduce food particles and plaque, while also preventing bad breath. Regular use can also prevent periodontal disease.
Studies have found that electric toothbrushes are typically more effective at removing plaque, while also being easier to use for those with limited mobility. Electric brushes also often come with built-in timers, helping you brush effectively. However, they are a lot more expensive, and manual brushes are still very effective when using the right technique.
As soon as your child’s first tooth appears, parents should use a soft infant toothbrush designed for children under 2 years. You can also use a clean washcloth or damp gauze to wipe their gums and teeth.
A typical dental checkup will take between 30 minutes to an hour, but it depends on the level of treatment and intervention you require. If your teeth are relatively clean and healthy, it can take as little as 20 minutes, but teeth that are less clean will require a longer consultation.