Teeth cleaning, or a dental hygiene appointment, is incredibly important to ensure the health of your teeth and gums. Brushing and flossing can eliminate the soft plaque build up on teeth from day to day eating and drinking. However, hardened plaque also known as tartar or calculus, can only be removed by a dental hygienist. At Coastal Smiles Dental Care we encourage our patients to schedule teeth cleanings at least twice per year to maintain good oral health .

Teeth cleanings are important because a build up of calculus on the teeth can cause gingivitis and periodontitis. The calculus causes inflamed gums and bone loss surrounding the teeth. If too much bone is lost around the teeth over time, the teeth can start to become mobile and eventually fall out of the mouth. The best way to make sure you do not lose your teeth is to keep them free of plaque and calculus. This can only be achieved through good oral hygiene practices at home and visiting your dental hygienist at least once every 6 months.

Occasionally a deep cleaning may be recommended. This is called a Scaling and Root Planing (or SRP for short). An SRP is needed when a patient has experienced bone loss and deep gum pockets. This type of deep cleaning (SRP) usually requires getting the gum area numb with local anesthetic because the hygienist is cleaning deep beneath the gums. These deep cleaning appointments are sometimes split into multiple appointments due to the extra time the deep cleanings require.

Current studies have found a strong connection between oral hygiene and overall health. These studies have shown that poor oral hygiene can negatively affect the heart and cardiac system. It is, therefore, imperative to maintain good oral health.