The most common type of cleaning is the basic removal of plaque and tartar by a certified hygienist. This doesn’t involve injected anesthesia but they may use a topical numbing medicine.
The other type of cleaning is deep tooth cleaning. This is when the hygienist or dentist uses a tool to scrape plaque and tartar from below the gumline. This requires both topical and local anesthesia.
Those who want to have better oral health should look to changing their diet a little. Sugary foods and especially sugar-filled beverages can result in a lot of plaque, tartar, and cavities. Crunchy foods, like apples, carrots, and broccoli, act as scrubbers to remove plaque and debris from teeth.
A relatively new discovery by health professionals is that those who breathe through their mouths tend to have more plaque than those who aren’t mouth-breathers. The idea is that air dries out the mouth and that leads to more plaque and tartar.
Those who have chronic problems with plaque and tartar may be told by the dentist that they have bad oral hygiene. That can make you embarrassed but it doesn’t hurt to look at your habits. Even those who brush their teeth twice a day may not be taking the time to brush them properly and many people forget to floss. Changing just a few habits can make a difference for your teeth.
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