Deep Teeth Cleaning Vs Regular Teeth Cleaning: What’s The Difference?

Good dental hygiene is essential for oral health. 64% of Americans visit their dentists regularly despite 95% of them agreeing to value their dental hygiene as their top priority. Regular dental appointments help detect any problems in their early stages.

Having professional teeth cleaning done regularly is an important part of your dental hygiene. It removes bacteria and plaque from hard to reach areas. Most patients aren’t aware of the types of professional dental cleanings out there.

What is regular cleaning?

Dentists recommend regular professional dental cleaning every six months when you go in for your dentist’s appointment. The process involves cleaning the teeth above the gum line. The procedure removes tartar and plaque buildup on your teeth that a toothbrush can’t reach.

Regular cleaning done by a dentist polishes the surface of the teeth. It disturbs the bacteria in your teeth and removes them. Only patients who are not at risk for periodontal disease (gum disease) are recommended to have regular cleanings done.

What’s the difference between tartar and plaque?

Tartar is the buildup of bacteria and food on the surface of the teeth that can be removed with regular brushing and flossing. Plaque, on the other hand, is tartar that has accumulated and hardened over time. Plaque is cleaned with the help of scaling. Scaling must be done by a professional; this requires specialist tools and machinery. Having scaling done by an inexperienced person can lead to the enamel being affected which leads to sensitivity and damages the teeth.

What is deep cleaning?

Deep cleaning is recommended by dentists when there is a large amount of tartar and plaque buildup on the teeth. Bacteria under the gums too are removed with this procedure. The tools used in this method reach into the deep space between the gum and tooth, known as the pocket.

Individuals who tend to skip brushing their teeth and flossing can also develop bacteria pockets and plaque buildups.

Since deep cleaning involves cleaning the gums, it is recommended to people suffering from untreated periodontitis. Just dislodging the bacteria could cause it to enter the bloodstream, leading to health complications.

Deep cleanings, therefore, are a longer procedure. Depending on the buildup being dealt with, it could be done in multiple sittings. Your dentist could recommend you to get one side of the mouth done at a time so that you can chew on the other side.

 A significant part of the deep cleaning process is root scaling. This allows for the gums and teeth to reattach by removing bacterial buildup.

If you’re looking for a reliable dental care service in Germantown, visit us. Our dental clinic provides general and cosmetic dental procedures offered by experienced professionals. You can meet the team and have a look at the list of procedures we offer. Contact us at (301) 353-8890 for more information.