What Does a Professional Teeth Cleaning Entail? | Dentist in Riverside

When we go in for our dental checkups, we expect a couple of things to take place – our teeth will be examined, cleaned and if anything is amiss, a treatment option is available. But what does that teeth cleaning actually entail? After all, the cleaning is generally what most patients fear when visiting the dentist. Here is a quick breakdown of what you can expect the next time you go in for a checkup:

Physical exam. A quick look inside your mouth will help your dental professional see what you’ve been doing with your dental health while you were gone. That little mirror? This is where they use it to check on your back teeth and gums.

Plaque and tartar removal. This is where your dental hygiene comes into play. If you don’t brush well, plaque builds up and turns into tartar. Tartar is removed with a scaler, the scraping sound you are familiar with.

Gritty toothpaste time. Once the tartar is removed, it’s time for a deep cleaning with an electric brush. This is the grinding sounds you hear. They use a gritty toothpaste that smells like the toothpaste we use every day but has a gritty texture that gets those hard to clean spots.

Flossing and rinsing. This sounds exactly like it is – a good flossing session and a refreshing rinse to remove any leftover debris.

Fluoride treatment. The final step is an application of fluoride. Fluoride will help keep cavities away in between dental visits.

Visiting the dentist is something we need to do at least twice a year to keep our mouths healthy, but dental hygiene needs to take place at home as well to keep optimal health.

To set up an appointment, call Dr. Middleton’s office in Riverside, CA at (951) 470-3379 or through the website.

Dr. Middleton proudly accepts patients from Riverside and all surrounding areas.

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