What Is Dental Deep Cleaning?

While many people know about regular teeth cleaning, they might not know about what is a deep cleaning at the dentist. Normal teeth cleaning is advised about twice a year, and dentists focus on teeth and gums on the outside in this case. Tooth scaling is normally involved, as well as professional flossing, cleaning, and other services.

Periodontal deep cleaning is only necessary if some underlying problems or potential issues are developing. Bacteria can go below the gum line, and things like plaque or tartar might form deep inside. To prevent gum disease and other issues, your dentist might need to work below the gums and around the roots of your teeth to clean everything out.

Why You Might Need a Deep Cleaning

Patients can normally look for the signs of gum disease or other gums and teeth problems themselves. If you have the following issues, you might need a tooth deep cleaning:

• Bad taste inside your mouth or stinky breath;
• Teeth falling out;
• Pain in the gums, bleeding, or swelling;
• Pockets forming in the gums, etc.

You should schedule an appointment to get a professional consultation to deal with these symptoms. Your dentist will decide if you need deep cleaning for gum disease.

The Deep Cleaning Procedure

If you have been wondering how do they deep clean your teeth, this is one of the standard procedures that involves certain stages. Here are some of the key components of the deep cleaning gums procedure.

Tooth Scaling

Tooth scaling is the process of removing tartar from your teeth in visible areas. Tartar is a hardened plaque that needs to be removed to avoid various diseases developing. The dentist chips tartar from your teeth and uses water to remove the shards and plaque building up in your gums.

Root Planing

Another part of oral deep cleaning is root planing. This means removing tartar from the roots of your teeth beneath the gum line, hence the name “deep cleaning.” The gum tissue is pushed aside to access the roots of your teeth and scrape away the tartar. Anesthetics are used to numb the feeling and avoid any pain.

Duration and Number of Visits

Now that you know how is deep cleaning of teeth done, it is also important to learn about the time necessary for this procedure. A couple of visits might be necessary to work on one side of your mouth and then on the other one. One visit takes from one to two hours to clean everything. Each visit consists of two parts as well. They include teeth scaling and root planing.

Benefits of Dental Deep Cleaning

Is deep cleaning necessary? Yes, in some cases, it is absolutely necessary. Here are some of the benefits of deep cleaning:

• Preventing gum disease;
• Removing bad breath;
• Protecting the roots;
• Preventing losing permanent teeth, etc.

Of course, your dentist should decide whether you need deep teeth cleaning or not.

Post-Procedure Care

Patients might feel discomfort after deep pocket teeth cleaning. These simple tips might make your recovery period much easier:

• Wait for the numbing effect to go away before eating;
• Eat softer foods and avoid too hot or too cold dishes while your gums and teeth are sensitive;
• Use over-the-counter painkillers to deal with possible discomfort and pain;
• Take all the medications prescribed by your dentist;
• Rinse your mouth using salt water to soothe the teeth and gums, etc.

You can ask your dentist for advice on how to deal with post-procedure soreness and potential issues. If you are having some unwanted side effects, make sure to see your doctor afterward.

Preventing the Need for Future Deep Cleanings

It is always much better to prevent certain procedures and treatments than go through them when you have no other option. This is what you can do to prevent the deep cleaning procedure in the future:

• Maintain your oral hygiene by brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing, and using other tools and things like mouthwash if necessary;
• Eat healthy and avoid too many sugary foods that will ruin your teeth;
• Avoid smoking as tobacco is damaging to your oral and dental health;
• Do not skip your regular checkups at the dentist and go for regular cleaning twice a year or more if necessary. Your dentist will tell you if you need to take certain actions to make your teeth and gums healthier.

Some people have a higher risk of gum disease and other issues, so make sure to check your teeth regularly and take action as soon as possible to prevent bacteria and plaque from spreading.

Dental Deep Cleaning: the Most Common Questions

Additional Resources

Check out these articles to learn more about deep teeth cleaning:

https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/what-is-the-cost-deep-teeth-cleaning

https://www.healthline.com/health/deep-cleaning-teeth