What Is Deep Cleaning of Teeth?

Do you frequently visit your dentist at Mi Casa Dental? If so, then it is not your first time hearing about dental cleaning services in dentistry. What you may not know, however, is that the deep cleaning of teeth is different from a routine dental cleaning. When you visit your dentist every three or six months, they perform a dental cleaning. It is a preventive measure to help maintain excellent oral hygiene and good oral health. Deep cleaning of teeth is much more thorough and different from this.

What Does Deep Cleaning Involve?

It is a procedure for removing calculus from teeth to overcome oral infections. Deep teeth cleaning in Houston comprises two main procedures:

1. Periodontal scaling – entails scraping off calculus from teeth surfaces.
2. Root planing – entails removing plaque and calculus from below the gum line.

Is Deep Teeth Cleaning Painful?

Deep teeth cleaning near you can be an uncomfortable treatment, especially when it is your first time. It is harder when the dentist pokes at the gum pockets to clean below the gum line. However, discomfort should not translate to pain unless you have a serious underlying infection.

The good news is that your dentist will administer local anesthesia to numb your mouth before the procedure. It will minimize any discomfort during the treatment.

What to Expect After Deep Cleaning of Teeth?

When your Southwest Houston dentist completes your treatment, you will still not feel anything because of the numbing effect. It should wear off after a few hours. When it does, you are likely to experience the following side effects:

1. Sore and tender gums
2. Reddened and swollen gums
3. Small streaks of blood in your saliva
4. Heightened tooth sensitivity

How Long Does It Take to Recover from Deep Cleaning?

Recovery differs for patients. Usually, it should take 5 to 7 days for the gums to heal properly. Within this first week of recovery, you will continue to experience discomfort and some of the other side effects.

What to Do During Recovery

Once you leave the dentist’s clinic, it is your responsibility to care for your oral cavity. The dentist will make due to give you guidelines to help you ease into your recovery smoothly. Some tips include:

1. Wait for at least 5 or 6 hours after the procedure before you eat. This period allows the numbing to wear off so you can feel your tongue and other mouth features. Besides, it will allow your teeth and gums to reduce sensitivity so you can eat comfortably.
2. Watch what you eat – start with soft and bland foods. Avoid hard, spicy, heavily seasoned, sticky, or acidic foods.
3. Drink plenty of water – as the perfect alternative to sodas and coffee.
4. Keep your mouth clean – use gentle strokes for brushing and flossing.
5. Quit smoking and taking alcohol – they slow healing, heighten swelling, and increase the risk of infections.

Why Do Dentists Always Recommend Deep Cleaning?

Technically, deep cleaning is not mandatory for everyone. Dentists typically recommend deep cleaning as a treatment option for patients with gingivitis or an advanced form of gum infection. The role of deep cleaning is:

1. To prevent tooth loss
2. To curb the spread of bacteria
3. To treat bad breath
4. To improve gum health and help reduce the gap between the teeth and gums
5. To prevent cavities and dental decay
6. To prevent the progression and advancement of gum disease

How To Know You Need Deep Cleaning Treatment

Even before your dentist determines that you need a deep teeth cleaning treatment, you can conclude the same by considering the following symptoms:

1. Persistent bad breath and a foul taste in your mouth
2. Swollen or puffy gums
3. Reddened and tender gums
4. Receding gums – when gums begin to pull away from teeth, they expose tooth roots.
5. Dental discoloration – particularly near the gum line.
6. Pain and bleeding when you eat hard foods or brush your teeth.

Conclusion

Deep teeth cleaning is a different dental procedure from a typical routine dental cleaning. It works well for patients who need treatment for periodontal disease.