Teeth Cleaning

Some types of bacteria that grow in the mouth can only be removed by a professional teeth cleaning. A toothbrush and floss, which are great tools for cleaning your teeth twice per day, wont remove all bacteria. Bacteria in the mouth can cause disease such as gingivitis, plaque buildup, calculus or tartar, or periodontal disease. Because the mouth is a warm, damp environment bacteria grow in number because it is such a hospitable location for the bacteria to live and reproduce. At home you can clean the mouth from bacteria by brushing regularly two times every day. Make sure you are brushing for at least two minutes every time. Flossing cleans the areas of the tooth where the toothbrush doesn’t reach. A tongue scraper can remove the bacteria build-ups from the crevices of the tongue like a vacuum removes dirt form a shag carpet.

At the dentist office, there are several different types of professional teeth cleanings. Prophylaxis, which is the most common and least invasive form of teeth cleaning, is a process by which plaque that cannot be removed with a brush, can be removed. The teeth will also be polished during this process, and it is suggested that teeth be cleaned professionally twice every year. In the cases in which someone’s teeth have not been cleaned for more than one year, a full mouth debridement may be necessary to remove any plaque buildup. A scaler and several hand tools will be used to clean the teeth. Also, a dental professional can use a laser light that can kill bacteria throughout the mouth. The laser light is highly effective at killing bacteria that live in infected gum pockets throughout the mouth. In the case of periodontal disease, site-specific laser therapy can be used to kill the bacteria that are forming bacterial colonies deep within the gum tissue. This process can be performed for each individual tooth pocket. In the case of periodontal disease, treatments should take place much more often then in the case of a common teeth cleaning.

If you are need teeth cleaning or are having any dental issues, contact Brian Francis DMD, a Billings Dentist!