In need of a dental deep cleaning and wondering what to expect? General dentistry focuses on ensuring patients' mouths are healthy, which includes deep cleanings. Knowing what to do before and after a deep cleaning helps to support a healthy mouth.
Want to understand why a dental deep cleaning is necessary? Also known as scaling and root planing, a deep cleaning is often required for dental patients who do not undergo regular dental cleanings. Regular cleanings help remove any plaque or tartar buildup on one's teeth. Plague or tartar can build up beneath the gum line when a long time goes by without undergoing a routine dental cleaning. Once the gum line is infected, only a dental deep cleaning can restore a patient's dental health.
The list below includes examples of some of the more important aftercare instructions dental patients need to follow after undergoing a deep cleaning to improve the overall health of their mouths.
Patients who receive any type of anesthesia should not eat until all of the numbness has worn off. It is necessary to avoid biting one's lips, cheeks, or tongue when chewing. Patients who have not undergone anesthesia must wait a minimum of two hours before eating. Patients should consume only soft foods during the first 72 hours. They should also completely avoid spicy foods and alcohol until their mouth has completely healed, which tends to be somewhere between three days and two weeks.
Once 24 hours have passed following the dental deep cleaning procedure, patients need to rinse their mouth with saltwater. Saltwater helps to keep one's mouth free from infection, which is important after undergoing a dental deep cleaning. While every patient will receive their own specific instructions, general guidelines for rinsing the mouth with salt include doing so four to six times a day for at least a couple of weeks. Add about ¼ teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water to make a salt water rinse at home.
While the patient's mouth is healing, they should use gentle care when brushing their teeth. This requires them to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and quality tooth floss. While patients can use water flossers instead of regular tooth floss, it is important not to place a lot of force around the gum line area. Patients can use a mouth rinse after 48 hours; however, dentists recommend saltwater. Patients prescribed antibiotics need to take the full course, as this helps ensure an overall healthy mouth.
Dental patients needing a dental deep cleaning should be treated as soon as possible. Otherwise, their dental problems will continue to worsen, which could require additional treatment. To learn more about dental deep cleanings, reach out to our Freehold office today to schedule an appointment.
Request an appointment here: https://www.sandorfamilydentistry.com or call Sandor Family Dentistry at (732) 333-6399 for an appointment in our Freehold office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Dental Cleaning and Examinations in Freehold, NJ.
Preventive dentistry, including routine dental cleanings, is an essential part of having a healthy mouth. These dental visits help patients avoid cavities, enamel wear, and gum disease. As a result, regular dental cleanings are crucial to a dental patient's oral health.Signing up for a dental cleaning on a regular basis is something that every dental…
Going to the dental office regularly likely means that the teeth will be cleaned on a routine basis, however, this does not mean that a deep teeth cleaning will be done. A deep teeth cleaning is actually different than the routine one that is done at a check-up. Many patients initially believe that a deep…
A dental cleaning is an essential part of general dentistry care for individuals of all ages, including toddlers. Many parents are under the impression that toddlers do not need a dental cleaning because their teeth will eventually fall out, but this is far from true.Dental cleanings should be undergone on a regular basis, no matter…
Whether you are a person who loves to care for your teeth and gums or someone who has been neglectful due to various circumstances, routine teeth cleaning is essential to your oral health. This article will review everything you need to know about professional teeth cleanings, such as:Why they are necessaryWhat to expect andHow to…