Dental Cleanings in Rockville, MD
How often should I get my teeth cleaned?
The American Dental Association recommends that patients have their teeth professionally cleaned at least twice a year. Professional teeth cleanings offer deep, thorough cleaning of the teeth and gums helping to keep your smile fresh and healthy. Patients who visit the dentist every six months are less likely to develop gum disease, tooth decay, and experience tooth loss. Teeth cleanings are very important because they contribute to protecting the longevity of the teeth and gums.
Rockville MD dentist Dr. Ali Sarkarzadeh and our entire dental care team are committed to providing comprehensive preventative dental care. Our compassionate and personalized approach to dentistry promotes patient education for disease prevention and conservative dental care for the maintenance of your natural smile.
As a part of preventative dental care, brushing twice a day and flossing once a day is an essential part of maintaining the health of your smile in between professional cleanings. At-home oral hygiene can help keep your natural teeth and gums for a lifetime of beautiful smiles.
Keeping Your Child’s Teeth Healthy
As a family dentist, Dr. Ali Sarkarzadeh offers dentistry for children at his Rockville MD dentist office. He stresses the importance of beginning regular visits to the dentist early to help teach your child healthy habits and help them establish a solid foundation for long-term oral health. Our friendly staff is trained to clean children’s teeth at any age.
One of the biggest challenges in children’s dentistry is preventing tooth decay. Just like adults, we recommend you bring your child in twice a year for a dental checkup and professional teeth cleaning. This provides the best defense against cavities along with strict at-home oral care and limited amounts of sugar. It also allows our office the opportunity to spot tooth decay in the early stages. The most conservative treatment options, such as a tooth filling, are available when it is detected in the early stages.
Dental Cleanings: What to Expect
One of our exceedingly skilled and experienced dental hygienists will perform your teeth cleanings (dental prophylaxis). There will be ample time for patients to ask questions and to discuss any dental anxiety they may be feeling. Our team can help you relax and prepare you for your dental cleanings. Your hygienist will also use this time to teach you proper techniques to use to keep your smile healthy in between your routine visits.
Our hygienists have a gentle technique, and most patients enjoy a comfortable cleaning that leaves their teeth clean and feeling fresh. Using specialized tools, the hygienist will gently remove plaque and tartar build-up from all surfaces of the teeth.
We can clean those “hard to reach” places, helping you to avoid the development of cavities, gum disease, tooth loss, and halitosis. The hygienist will polish your teeth, removing stains and plaque that are not otherwise removed during tooth brushing and scaling. Lastly, they will thoroughly floss in between your teeth. Most patients experience very little discomfort during teeth cleaning.
Dental Cleanings FAQs
What should I expect from a dental cleaning?
Before a dental cleaning, expect to be in your appointment for at least an hour. After a dental cleaning, patients can expect to feel refreshed, and like their teeth are pearly white and cleaned in all crevices. Most dental cleanings are pain-free and are very beneficial to your oral and overall health. During a dental cleaning, the dentist will clean and remove any built-up plaque on our around your teeth, and then clean and polish them, leaving patients with a whiter and clean smile.
How often should I have my teeth professionally cleaned?
The American Dental Association recommends that patients have their teeth cleaned twice a year. This may vary from patient to patient based on their oral health and genetics. Patients who have a high risk for oral disease or infection may need to visit the dentist quarterly, while others may only need to go annually.
What are the benefits of a dental cleaning?
Dental cleanings benefit your overall and oral health. Regularly visiting the dentist puts patients in a position to catch any oral diseases or issues early and provides them with the most options for treatment. Short-term benefits of a dental cleaning may include whiter teeth, a refreshed feeling, and a boost in confidence in one’s new shiny smile.
What not to do after teeth cleaning?
After a professional teeth cleaning, avoid any acidic food or drink. These include tomatoes, citrus fruits, wine, and coffee. Patients should also avoid spicy foods.
How long can you go without a dental cleaning?
The ADA recommends that patients have their mouths professionally cleaned every 6 months. This helps reset your oral health and check to be sure that no infection or diseases have formed.