teeth cleaning oxnard Archives - Dentist Oxnard, CA 93036

Dental Cleanings Near Me, Oxnard CA

Posted On June 14, 2021

While many dental procedures can be dreadful, teeth cleanings are easily tolerated by most people because they’re not only simple and painless, but also an important part of maintaining your long-term oral health. Ideally, dental cleanings should be performed every 6-12 months to prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar that can cause oral problems such as bad breath, cavities, gum disease, loose teeth, and so on. But your dentist may recommend shorter intervals if you’re at greater risk due to pregnancy, your lifestyle habits, or your general health.

So what exactly happens during a regular dental cleaning?

1. Tartar and Plaque Removal

The actual teeth cleaning process involves the use of specialized tools, such as scalers to remove plaque and calculus from the surface of individual teeth, between the teeth, and around the gum line. This step may take longer if it has been a long time since your last cleaning.

2. Polishing

When all the plaque and tartar has been removed from your teeth, the hygienist will use a special brush with a soft rubber cup. This not only removes any surface stains, but also makes your tooth surface smooth and shiny to make it harder for plaque to form.

3. Expert Flossing

This step helps to thoroughly clean the area between your teeth to remove any leftover plaque and toothpaste from the previous steps.

4. Rinsing

The dental hygienist uses a mouth rinse with liquid fluoride to remove any debris and clean your mouth.

5. Fluoride Treatment

As the final step, your dental hygienist may apply flavored fluoride by putting it in flexible trays that are then placed over your teeth for 30 seconds. This helps to strengthen your teeth and enhance the protection against plaque and calculus.
Following the cleaning, your mouth may feel fresher and your teeth appear brighter. This is because teeth cleaning helps to prevent and treat gum disease and maintain tooth health, but also enhance the appearance of your smile. To learn more about what to expect from a routine dental cleaning in Ocnard CA , please contact our office today.

Importance of Dental Exam & Teeth Cleaning in Oxnard CA

Posted On February 16, 2021

No matter how diligent your at-home oral care routine is, harmful bacteria can still hide in your mouth in places that are hard to reach with regular brushing and flossing. After some time, the accumulated plaque and tartar can pose serious risks to your oral health and even affect your overall health if the bacteria spreads from your mouth to various body tissues. As such, it should be removed by a dental professional using specialized oral cleaning tools at a recommended interval.

Bacteria Growth in Your Mouth

The warm and moist environment in your mouth is very hospitable for the growth of bacteria, which manifests as:

Plaque – the biofilm formed by bacteria colonies living in your mouth. It is responsible for producing acid that can wear your teeth causing cavities and/or damage gums if not continuously removed by regular brushing
Tartar or calculus – forms when plaque is not removed properly, causing it to calcify and mineralize into a hard substance that attracts more harmful bacteria. Calculus can only be removed during dental cleanings using specialized tools.

Dental Cleanings Prevent Gum Disease

Bacteria in your mouth can accumulate to a point where it becomes active and destructive, resulting in gum infection. The first stage of gum infection is known as gingivitis, and is characterized by gum inflammation, swelling, and reddening. Due to sensitive gums, you may also notice some blood on your toothbrush or when rinsing your mouth after brushing. Fortunately, gingivitis can be successfully treated with professional dental cleaning and an improved at-home oral care routine.

If there are no interventions, gingivitis can advance to a more serious case of gum disease known as periodontitis or periodontal disease. It affects the foundation of your teeth – the bone tissue connecting your teeth to the jaw. If not treated promptly, periodontitis can cause severe bone loss that loosens your teeth with some even falling out. Though it’s irreversible, dental professionals can help you manage the symptoms and improve your oral health.

Schedule Your Dental Cleaning Today

Your dentist will examine your teeth and gums to determine the best type of dental cleaning in Oxnard CA to improve your oral health and reduce the risk of advanced gum disease and cavities.

Reasons to Keep Your Routine Dental Visits in Oxnard CA

Posted On May 5, 2020

Most dental professionals recommend that you get your teeth professionally cleaned at least twice a year. However, you may require more frequent cleaning and routine dental visits if you’re at greater risk of dental problems, like during pregnancy, or are currently undertaking dental treatment, like orthodontic treatment. Otherwise, a comprehensive dental examination is necessary at least once a year, which includes an oral cancer exam among other important checks to ensure your total oral and general wellbeing.

Professional cleaning is necessary for the following reasons:

Maintain Balance with Your Immune System

Your mouth is exposed to a myriad of health risks unlike other parts of the body. Besides the helpful and unhelpful bacteria living in your mouth, you’re exposed to other dangers in the food and drinks you consume. You need to take special care of this environment to avoid any problems. Since your mouth contains harmful bacteria and useful bacteria, your immune system is actively fighting the harmful bacteria to prevent it from causing harm. Professional teeth cleaning and routine dental visits help to prevent the buildup of bacteria to such an extent that it overwhelms your immune system and allows disease.

2. To Prevent the Buildup of Tartar

Daily brushing and flossing help to remove plaque on the surface of your teeth, while professional teeth cleaning removes tartar (hardened deposits that cannot be removed through regular brushing). This prevents the buildup of harmful bacteria in your mouth that may lead to decay, gum disease, and other oral and body issues.

3. Prevent Oral Diseases

Once the buildup of plaque and tartar is uncontrollable, it causes gum inflammation and bleeding, which is known as periodontal disease. If left untreated, the severity of gum disease can lead to tooth loss and the infection spreading to other parts of your body through the bloodstream. This increases the risk of diabetes going out of control, as well as heart disease, stroke, and dementia.

Final Note

Cleaning your teeth at home using good brushing technique and flossing can help to prevent most oral issues. And with regular professional teeth cleaning, you can have peace of mind that your mouth is in the best condition possible.

Schedule your routine dental visit with your dentist in Oxnard CA to maintain your beautiful smile.

Cost of Dental Exams & Teeth Cleaning in Oxnard CA

Posted On April 27, 2020

Dental checkups and professional cleaning are quite inexpensive and should be performed regularly as recommended by dental professionals, every six months, to ensure your optimal oral health. The cost of dental exams and teeth cleaning partly depends on the age of the patient, with children possibly having a different rate. Primary teeth in children are also prone to stains, plaque, and calculus, which means that professional cleaning is also important for their oral health.

Associated Costs

To determine whether deep cleaning is necessary, that is scaling and root planing below the gum line, an x-ray may be necessary to assess the extent of periodontal disease. That said, you don’t necessarily need to incur the extra cost of X-rays to go through a preventive procedure like deep cleaning.

Your dentist will determine which of these preventive procedures are necessary based on your dental exam, after which they will be done in a single appointment together with your dental cleaning.

Paying for a Dental Cleaning

Most people with dental insurance are fully covered for up to two cleanings per year, as well as X-rays and a dental exam for new patients. For additional preventive visits, perhaps due to pregnancy, smoking, or other condition, you should reach out to your provider to determine whether they will cover the cost fully or partially. Combined with a proper at-home oral care routine, these visits help you maintain optimal dental health, reducing the risk of tooth loss and expensive dental procedures.

Learn more about the costs of routine dental visits by contacting your general dentist in Oxnard CA today.