Your mouth is the first point of contact to nutrients that enter your body, and hence, it is essential to keep the oral cavity as clean as possible. The mouth always houses bacteria, some of them are healthy, while some of them may potentially lead to diseases and decay. While it is always advised to brush and floss regularly, a timely visit to the dentist is equally essential for optimal dental health.

Hygiene Visits

Hygiene visits to the dentist's office comprise two phases: Check-up/ examination followed with dental prophylaxis.

During your dental check-up, the dentist would check for signs of decay and cavities. The dentist would make use of diagnostic tools such as X-rays to detect signs of cavities between teeth. The oral examination is also pertained to check for signs of plaque, tartar, and biofilms on the surface of teeth and gums.

The dentist will also take a closer look at the gums. The gums are generally checked with the help of a unique dental tool, which helps evaluate healthy gums by determining the space between teeth and gums. Healthy gums would mean shallow areas, whereas unhealthy gums would have a deeper space between teeth and gums. The extensive dental check-up would also be done in parts of the tongue, throat, face, head, and neck. 

Cleaning Your Teeth

Professional dental cleaning involves cleaning parts of the enamel by which surface stains and other debris gets removed. The dentist performs scaling to remove plaque, tartar, bacteria, and calculus, which regular dental home care cannot take care of.

Post scaling, teeth would be polished, and a gritty toothpaste would be used to remove any surface stains. The dentist would help you floss and ensure areas between teeth are clean and free of debris.

Easy Tips To Follow Between Dental Visits

It is essential that you follow regular brushing and flossing even in between dental visits. The bacterial plaque would always form on your teeth, but it can still be managed with good home care routines such as:

• Brushing twice a day with a soft-bristled toothpaste and a fluoride toothbrush.
• Floss every day.
• Ensure to rinse your mouth with a mouthwash or oral rinse. Mouthwashes not only have antibacterial properties but also helps keep the mouth fresh all day.

Get your facts right by visiting our dentist for your dental health concerns. Call us (630) 529-0303 or schedule an online appointment with Dr. Lu for a consultation at our office in Bloomingdale, IL.