Deep cleaning is important for protecting your oral health. While a regular cleaning at the dentist focuses on the surfaces of your teeth and between them and around the gum line, a deep cleaning is used as a way to remove bacteria and other debris that have begun to collect under your gum line.
Deep cleaning is also known as scaling or root planing and is a necessary procedure if your dentist feels that your oral health is not up to par due to bacteria.
So, is it possible to accomplish at home what dentists and hygienists do during your in-office cleanings?
Maybe.
No matter what you do at home, it’s not going to be as good as the care you get in the dental office. In addition to deep cleaning, dentists also check your oral health and do an oral cancer examination. You’ll also get tips for at-home maintenance of your teeth and help dealing with any serious problems you can’t fix at home.
For more about how your dentist conducts an oral cancer screen, check out this information from the Mayo Clinic.
All of that said, it is possible to do some deep cleaning at home. This can help you avoid having to visit the dentist for a deep cleaning more than two times per year, and in some cases, people are able to cut down to one dental visit each year because of their at-home efforts.
If you need help finding a dentist in your area, check out this information from WebMD.
If you’re interested in deep cleaning teeth at home, what should you know?
Care and Maintenance of Your Dental Health
First and foremost, before you concern yourself with deep cleaning teeth at home, you need to make sure you’re doing general cleaning the right way. Without caring for your teeth properly on a daily basis, there’s no way deep cleaning will do you any good.
Start with your tools. Make sure you have a toothbrush that feels comfortable and doesn’t make your teeth bleed. Most people do best with a soft toothbrush, but your dentist can help you make the best choice based on your needs. If possible, invest in an electric toothbrush that does a lot of the brushing work for you.
It’s also a good idea to invest in something that helps you keep your toothbrush detoxified. Obviously, if you’re using your brush to brush away bacteria, the bacteria can build up on the bristles of the brush. Dipping your brush in something that kills the bacteria can help, but it also might make your brush taste bad. Instead, consider investing in a UV light that destroys bacteria and has no effect on the taste of your brush.