Spring Clean Your Smile! A Fresh Start For Your Smile This Spring
It’s that time of year again, the snow is gone, the weather is warm (then cold, then warm again), the buds and blooms are sprouting. It’s the time of year that without hesitation we all naturally start to declutter the house. Clean out the garage, clear the closets and do the deep refreshing clean. What better way to start the new season with a fresh slate? But why leave it to those closets, the cupboards, the garage? Spring is also the perfect reminder and opportunity to take care of ourselves too. Even with great brushing, and cleaning between our teeth there are still areas you simply cannot reach. Over time, build up hardens and hides in those sneaky areas and beneath the gumline. That’s where a professional cleaning comes in to “reset” what your mouth needs.
During a cleaning your Dental Hygienist starts with assessments, although you may not realize it they are evaluating several things, visually, tactically and quantitatively. Checking, colour, texture, firmness of the gums, measuring pocket depths, looking for signs of inflammation contributing to gum disease, reviewing oral hygiene, and evaluating where that bacterial biofilm is harbouring. A lot goes into this assessment to ensure the cleaning treatment is tailored to your mouth- no cookie cutter cleanings here! This is where early signs of gingivitis or periodontal disease are caught before they become more advanced.
The cleaning- carefully and skillfully removing those harmful levels of bacteria that are both hard and soft. The soft stuff? That’s plaque- a soft sticky layer that attaches to the teeth, easily removed by brushing, flossing, or waterpiking. The hard stuff? That’s left to the Hygienist. Using instruments, or ultrasonics, the Dental Hygienist will remove those deposits, all the while allowing irrigation of the gums, and providing stimulation that the tissue needs for healing. Those nooks and crannies in our mouths, the hard-to-reach areas (much like the corners of our cupboards and closets) need the most attention.
Ready for the best part? The polishing removes any fine areas of plaque remaining, but most importantly removes surface level stains. The coffee stains- let’s face it, we all have it! While polishing leaves the teeth looking and feeling fresh, the most important part to prevent and treat gum disease was the cleaning itself. A dental cleaning isn’t just about making your teeth feel smooth and look shiny (although that is the bonus) it’s about preventing gum disease. It’s protecting your overall health, and catching small issues before they turn into more advanced problems. It’s about leaving you feeling confident and happy with your mouth and smile!
Just like your home, your mouth benefits from those thorough spring cleanings, so if it’s been awhile this is your reminder to refresh your smile. Tip for home this spring: toss away that old toothbrush if it’s been used for more than 3 months and bring out the new. Check expiration dates on rinses, pastes and ask your Dental Hygienist what products are best for you- they’re the pros! Contact us today to schedule!
Happy Spring!… and Spring Cleaning!