It is no secret that the best way to keep your teeth healthy is to schedule a check-up with your dentist about twice a year. During your teeth cleaning appointment, your teeth will get a celebrity treatment by going through a deep-cleaning process. The dentist will remove plaque, tartar, and other bacteria that has built up on your teeth. Additionally, you will be given a thorough exam to ensure you have no deep-seated oral health problems.
Does Teeth Cleaning Whiten Teeth?
Teeth cleaning can give your mouth the tune-up it needs, but there are still a lot of questions about the cleaning process that patients want to know about before they schedule an appointment. Does teeth cleaning hurt? Does teeth cleaning whiten teeth or remove stains? Your family dentist can help you understand the purpose of teeth cleaning and whether or not you can say goodbye to stains with this one simple procedure.
How Teeth Cleaning Works
Many dentists recommend teeth cleaning twice a year to eliminate harmful buildup on your teeth. Plaque and tartar can spread bacteria and cause decay, so it is important to get rid of them using professional dental tools. By brushing and flossing at home every day, you can prevent these things from coming back.
The dentist also gives your teeth a deep clean during the procedure, scrubbing your teeth and finishing them up with a polish that makes them look as good as new. Depending on the kinds of stains you have on your teeth, you may be able to say goodbye to them after your in-office teeth cleaning session. However, different types of stains require many alternative treatments.
How Do Teeth Stain?
Some dental stains are small and normal enough to go unnoticed, while others are so prominent that you see a mouth full of dark spots whenever you look in the mirror. It proves important to know how your teeth stain so you can find the most successful treatment method. Two main categories of stains can require treatment in different ways:
Intrinsic Stains
Intrinsic stains come from surface stains that have not been addressed, whether caused by food and drink or a dental injury. Also, intrinsic stains are the deepest stains, sinking beyond the surface of the tooth into the internal layers. These stains can look very dark and bold, showing up prominently the longer left untreated.
Most intrinsic stains have become too deep-seated and cannot be treated with a surface-level procedure like teeth cleaning. In fact, teeth whitening may not resolve the issue either. Your best bet is to speak with your dentist about dental bonding or veneers.
Extrinsic Stains
Fortunately, extrinsic stains are much more common – and much more easily treatable. These surface-level stains come from eating certain foods and drinks that contain heavy pigment, wearing away at the surface of your teeth. This can make your teeth look yellow or gray, but as long as you take care of the issue right away through teeth cleaning or whitening, you can most likely get rid of them all. Just be sure to maintain good oral health habits at home.
Restore Your Pearly White Smile Today
Nothing is stopping you from eating your favorite foods and snacks, but it can be beneficial for your health to visit your dentist on a regular basis. With in-office cleanings every six months, you can get rid of the extrinsic stains that yellow your teeth and wipe them away before they sink deeper and become too intrinsic to get rid of. Your friendly Encino dental team can offer you more information about the benefits of professional teeth cleaning when you get in touch with us online or in person today!
