Having your teeth cleaned is one of the most important things you can do to keep your teeth healthy. In addition to daily brushing and flossing, it is important to have your teeth professional cleaned once every six months. This is one of many services you can receive at
our Mission Viejo/Orange County office.

The purpose of having your teeth cleaned professionally is to get tartar build up removed and clean deeper than you can do at home, even with proper brushing and flossing. Doing this helps to prolong the life of your teeth as well as prevent gum disease. There are many products
that can protect your teeth from tartar build up in between your professional cleanings. Be sure to ask our dentists what they recommend for toothpaste, mouthwash and other at home teeth cleaning products.

What to expect when you have your teeth cleaned

When you come into our office to have your professional cleaning, there are several steps that we will take to ensure a thorough cleaning of your teeth. In some cases, we will first use an ultrasonic device that is used to loosen the larger pieces of tartar that have built up on the teeth since your last cleaning.

The length of time this step takes depends on the amount of build up on your teeth. Sometimes it can take awhile if there is a lot of buildup which is why tartar preventing products are good to use in between cleanings. It makes this process much faster and easier.

After the big pieces of tartar are removed, the dentist will start with the smaller tools to finish getting the rest of the deposits off your teeth and smooth the surfaces. These instruments are curved and allow our dentist to get all the tartar off your teeth, even in the hard to reach places. The teeth are usually scraped during this step as well, which again, doesn’t hurt, but can take some time depending on the condition of your teeth.

After all the scraping and smoothing is done, it’s time for the next step which is polishing. A gritty, toothpaste like substance is used with the polisher which is soft and spins, clearing the teeth of any residual plaque.

Dental cleanings are good for your teeth, make your smile fresh and pretty while keeping your teeth healthy. Call our office to schedule your next cleaning. We look forward to seeing you.