Teeth cleaning near me Canoga Park

A routine checkup typically involves an oral examination and professional teeth cleaning, both of which form a vital part of your dental health and overall wellbeing. Studies show that gum disease is connected to a number of serious health conditions, including stroke, heart disease, premature birth, and some types of arthritis. Poor oral health can also affect your memory and cognitive skills.

Also referred to as dental prophylaxis, professional dental cleanings require a dental professional to use special instruments to remove plaque and calculus on the surface of your teeth and below the gum line. This effectively removes harmful bacteria in your mouth that are responsible for gum inflammation, which is an indicator of periodontal disease. If not removed, the bacteria buildup leads to bad breath, stained teeth, bleeding gums, loose teeth, and general poor health.

What happens when harmful bacteria grown in your mouth?

The warm, moist oral environment is conducive for the growth of harmful bacteria that cause:

  • Plaque – a layer of bacteria that coats your tooth enamel and produces an acid that destroys both the teeth and gums
  • Tartar or calculus – failure to remove the plaque biofilm properly causes it to calcify and mineralize into a hard substance on your tooth that attracts more bacteria.
  • Gingivitis – failure to properly manage plaque causes it to reach a destructive stage where it infects the gums and causes swelling and inflammation. This condition must be aggressively treated to keep it from advancing to periodontal disease, which is associated with bone loss and loose teeth that may eventually fall out.

Adding regular dental cleanings to your oral care routine is the best way to prevent these and other oral health issues. A dental cleaning typically includes:

  • Cleaning – Also referred to as a prophylaxis, a dental cleaning involves scaling to remove plaque, tartar, and stains from the visible areas of your teeth. Dental professionals recommend teeth cleaning at least twice a year – every 6 months.
  • Full mouth debridement – The heavy calculus buildup - from slipping professional cleanings for more than one year - can only be removed through a full mouth debridement.
  • Gingival bacterial reduction – An additional service where the dentist uses laser light to kill bacteria in infected gum pockets due to gum disease
  • Polishing – Dental professionals use a dental device with a rubber cup filled with polishing material. It is best for children cleaning or as the final stage of professional cleaning.

Plaque control is the key to maintaining a healthy oral environment, as well as the prevention and control of dental caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis. Professional dental cleanings help to prevent the bacteria from accumulating in your mouth, which in turn helps to manage gum disease and associated illnesses including diabetes and heart disease. Dr. Saman Edalat can check your mouth and clean your teeth to ensure that you have a healthy mouth and smile.