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Good oral health is more than just brushing your teeth twice daily.

While daily brushing and flossing are essential for keeping plaque at bay, they are not enough to remove all the buildup that can accumulate over time.

Professional dental hygienist cleanings are pivotal in maintaining a healthy mouth and preventing long-term oral issues. Here, we delve into why professional dental cleanings are essential, what to expect during a visit, and how these cleanings can safeguard your oral health for the long term.

Why regular Professional Hygienist cleanings matter

Although at-home oral care routines are important, they can’t match the effectiveness of professional dental cleanings. Over time, plaque hardens into tartar, which cannot be removed by brushing or flossing alone. Dental hygienists use specialised tools to remove tartar and other buildup that forms in hard-to-reach areas of your mouth, such as between teeth or along the gumline.

Unfortunately, skipping regular cleanings can lead to many oral health issues, from bad breath to gum disease. Plaque and tartar provide a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, which can lead to gingivitis—the earliest stage of gum disease. Left untreated, gingivitis can progress into periodontitis, a more severe form of gum disease that can result in gum recession, bone loss, and eventually tooth loss.

Professional hygienist cleaning helps maintain a bright smile and prevent more serious problems from developing, keeping the entire mouth healthy.

Examination by a dental hygienist adelaide
A dental hygienist in Adelaide explaining cleaning

What to expect during cleaning by a Dental Hygienist in Adelaide

A professional cleaning by a dental hygienist is more thorough than anything you can achieve at home. Dental hygienists are trained to clean every surface of your teeth and gums, ensuring your mouth is free from plaque, tartar, and bacteria. Here’s a breakdown of what typically happens during a cleaning:

Initial Examination

Before the actual cleaning begins, the dental hygienist will perform an initial examination of your teeth and gums. Using a small mirror, they will check for any signs of inflamed gums, cavities, or other potential issues. This step helps the hygienist assess the condition of your oral health and determine any areas that need special attention.

Plaque and Tartar Removal

The first step of the cleaning process involves removing plaque and tartar. Our hygienists use an ultrasonic scaler, an advanced dental instrument that uses high-frequency vibrations to remove plaque, tartar, and stains from teeth. If required, manual scaling is utilised afterwards using specialised handheld tools to scrape away tartar from tooth surfaces, below the gum line, and hard-to-reach areas. The more tartar there is, the longer this step will take, so regular cleanings are recommended to prevent tartar from accumulating excessively.

Flossing

Next, the hygienist will floss between each of your teeth using dental floss, a water flosser, or a combination of both, depending on the area the hygienist needs to reach. Water flossers use pressurised water to clean hard-to-reach areas and remove plaque more effectively than traditional flossing. While many people floss daily, professional flossing goes further to remove any leftover debris from the cleaning process and ensure no plaque remains hidden between your teeth.

Teeth Polishing

After plaque and tartar are removed from the teeth, polishing helps smooth out the tooth surfaces, making it harder for plaque to accumulate. The hygienist uses Guided Biofilm therapy, which is gentle on the teeth and gums. This “AirFlow technology uses high-pressured warm water with erythritol powder to remove the biofilm. This biofilm is where bacteria accumulate. This gives teeth a clean, shiny appearance and helps remove surface stains that can’t be eliminated through regular brushing.

Rinsing

After thoroughly cleaning and flossing your teeth, you’ll be asked to rinse your mouth.

Flouride Treatment (Optional)

In most cases, your cleaning will end with a fluoride treatment. Fluoride is a mineral that helps protect your teeth from decay by making your enamel more resistant to acid attacks from bacteria in plaque. A fluoride treatment involves applying a gel, foam, or varnish to your teeth and letting it sit for a few minutes. Topical fluoride is not toxic to the body.

The benefits of Hygienist cleanings for long-term oral health

The advantages of professional cleanings extend far beyond having a clean mouth immediately after your visit. Regular cleanings are a preventative measure against various oral health problems, some of which can have long-lasting consequences if left unchecked, resulting in the need for further dental interventions, such as root canal treatments, crowns or dental implants.

Prevention of Gum Disease

One of the primary benefits of professional cleanings is the prevention of gum disease. Gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease, often goes unnoticed because it doesn’t initially cause pain. Professional cleaning removes the bacteria that cause gum inflammation, preventing the onset of more severe gum conditions like tooth loss, receding gums, periodontitis (bone loss), and gum abscesses.

Reduction of Bad Breath

Chronic bad breath, also known as halitosis, can indicate underlying oral health issues, such as poor dental hygiene or gum disease. Professional cleanings target the bacteria responsible for bad breath and remove plaque that regular brushing might miss, leaving your breath fresh and your mouth healthy.

Early Detection of Oral Health Problems

During a cleaning, the dental hygienist or dentist may identify potential issues, such as cavities or gum inflammation, before they become significant problems. Early detection allows for more straightforward treatments and better outcomes for your oral health.

Protection Against Cavities

Plaque is the leading cause of tooth decay, and once it hardens into tartar, it becomes even more dangerous to your teeth. By scheduling regular cleanings, you reduce the risk of plaque accumulating and forming cavities.

Improved Overall Health

Oral health is closely linked to your overall well-being and studies have shown that poor oral hygiene can contribute to heart disease, diabetes, and other health conditions. By staying on top of your oral health with professional cleanings, you reduce the risk of these systemic issues.

Consulting with a dental hygienist Adelaide

Why Hygienists do a better job than at-home brushing

While brushing and flossing at home are vital components of oral hygiene, they are not enough to ensure optimal oral health. Professional hygienists undergo specialised training that allows them to clean your teeth more effectively and comprehensively than any at-home routine could. Here’s why:

Advanced Tools

Hygienists can access advanced tools like scalers, ultrasonic devices, and high-powered polishing equipment, which can remove plaque and tartar far more effectively than a toothbrush and dental floss. These tools are designed to reach areas difficult to clean at home, such as the back of teeth and the gum line.

Deep Cleaning Techniques

Professional hygienists use scaling and root planing to thoroughly clean the surfaces of your teeth and smooth the roots, making it more difficult for bacteria to reattach. This deep cleaning is essential for preventing gum disease and maintaining healthy gums.

Expertise and Training

Dental hygienists are trained to identify and address oral health issues that may go unnoticed during regular home care routines. They know how to clean teeth in a way that minimises damage to enamel and gum tissue, reducing the risk of sensitivity or gum recession.

Professional cleaning of your teeth by a dental hygienist in Adelaide are essential for maintaining oral health and overall well-being. While brushing and flossing at home play a vital role in daily hygiene, they are not enough to remove all plaque and tartar buildup, which can lead to more serious issues down the road. Regular professional cleanings prevent gum disease, cavities that lead to composite fillings, and bad breath while also offering early detection of potential problems.

It’s a small step that can lead to a lifetime of healthy smiles, reduced oral health complications, and a better quality of life. So, next time you consider skipping a dental cleaning, remember the long-term benefits—your future self (and your smile) will thank you.

To book your next professional Hygienist cleaning, please contact us on (08) 7226 3559 or make a booking online.