September 16, 2025

Keeping your natural teeth clean and healthy may sound easy, but data shows that roughly 26% of adults have tooth decay without any treatment. More so, 46% of adults aged thirty and above present signs of gum disease, while another 9% suffer from extreme periodontitis. If you have sustained teeth problems that necessitated an extraction, you may want to consider Monterey bone grafting to help your recovery. Below are five proven ways to maintain proper oral health:

Flossing

Brushing your teeth at least twice a day is customary for most people, but flossing is not part of their oral hygiene regimen. Even those who attempt flossing may not be doing it correctly, rendering it useless. The next time you floss, wrap the floss tightly and pass it gently between your teeth.

Perform this movement beneath the gum lines about twice and preferably in front of a mirror for guidance. If you notice bleeding when flossing, this could signify gum disease. Continued flossing should alleviate the signs of onset gingivitis, but consult your dentist if the bleeding carries on after two weeks. A trusted Denton dentist can provide professional evaluation and treatment to address the issue effectively.

Avoid staining teeth

Beverages like coffee and red wine are notorious for staining your teeth if you consume them too often. The superficial stain is easy to remove with professional teeth cleaning, but internal staining affects the enamel. If you must have your glass of red wine, tea, or coffee, try rinsing your mouth with water afterward or drink from a straw instead. 

Straighten your teeth

Crooked teeth or misaligned teeth are not the most attractive thing to look at, which can impact your smile. Some people get an open bite, underbite, or other anomalies that affect their smile and, in turn, affect their self-esteem. Straightening your teeth solves such problems developed from childhood, and it doesn’t matter how old you are. Invisalign treatment is ideal for adults who don’t wish to wear braces and straighten their teeth within a year.

Overall health

Proper oral health goes in tandem with your general health status. If you seek to improve your smile, don’t neglect to address diabetes, hypertension, teeth grinding, obesity, etc. These and other health conditions affect your smile, not just how perfectly your dental formula appears. More so, a weakened immunity makes it harder to treat oral problems like gingivitis. Establish a workout regimen and consume nutrient-dense foods to boost your immunity.

Fill in the missing teeth

Dental caries may necessitate tooth extraction to eliminate the pain. Tooth loss can also arise from trauma sustained in an accident or gum disease. Whatever the reason, having missing teeth leaves gaps that will affect your smile and make the adjacent teeth shift. Dental implants are an easy solution that will restore your natural smile.

Regular dental checkups are essential, so the dentist can examine your teeth and gums to see if problems need addressing. They will perform x-rays and give a proper diagnosis, plus complimentary teeth cleaning if necessary. Postponing treatment paves the way for severe medical issues that will yield suffering and cost more to manage.

Not everyone fancies teeth cleaning appointments. Between the strange noises, the poking, prodding and jaw discomfort, it is easy to relate the ‘dreadful’ treatment with the apprehension. Just like an annual physical exam is vital for your overall well being, regular dental cleaning is ideal for your smile’s health. According to Dr. Wendy, a dental hygienist in Mesa, routine cleaning entails removing calculus and plaque from above and within your teeth and gum line to enhance your oral health and the appearance of your pearly whites. The treatment also allows your dentist to look for other oral health concerns like tooth decay and oral cancer.  

What should you expect from a hygienist during a dental cleaning session?

Knowing what to expect during your dental appointment helps calm you down. For instance, a dental cleaning appointment entails the following:

Physical exam

The dental expert will assess your entire mouth before beginning the actual cleaning process. During the physical examination, your dental hygienist will use a relatively small mirror to evaluate your teeth and gum line for signs of gum inflammation (gingivitis) and other dental concerns. If the medical professional detects a complex issue, he might proceed with the treatment. 

Removing plaque

Thanks to the mirror guide, the dental hygienist rids your gum line of plaque and tartar between your teeth using a scaler. You might hear scraping, though it is normal. The more tartar your teeth have, the more time the medical professional will scrape the spot. Though your dentist can help remove tartar, regular brushing and flossing might help prevent plaque from hardening. Healthy dental habits will save you the cleaning process, especially if removing plaque is not your favorite part. For thorough professional cleanings, a Fairfield, ME dental office can provide the care needed to keep your smile healthy.

Toothpaste cleaning

After your dental hygienist ensures that your teeth are tartar-free, he will clean them with an electric brush. Though the grinding noise might sound scary, the high-powered brushing is an effective deep clean to remove tartar left behind with the scaler. Professional cleaning entails using toothpaste that tastes like ordinary toothpaste though you can choose a different flavor. However, the toothpaste has a characteristic gritty consistency that brushes your teeth gently. If done professionally, your dentist might suggest cleaning at least twice a year. However, the dental expert might not recommend home treatment to prevent wearing down your enamel.

Expert flossing

Whether you floss or not, professional flossing is the ultimate cleaning process. The medical expert gets deep inside your teeth to locate potential spots where gum bleeding might happen. Though expert flossing might appear pointless, especially if you floss at home, process flossing removes leftover plaque and toothpaste from toothpaste cleaning.

Rinsing

The cleaning process entails rinsing your mouth to rid it of debris. The medical professional might rinse your mouth using liquid fluoride.

Fluoride treatment

This is the last step in the cleaning process that your doctor uses as a protectant for your pearly whites to help fight cavities for many months. The medical expert may ask you about your favorite taste before applying the foamy and sticky gel in a fitting mouthpiece that your hygienist fits on your teeth and leaves it for at least a minute.

Contact your dentist to know how you uphold the cleaning processes to enhance your oral health.