Cleaning and Topical Fluoride Application
The work that the dentist does to maintain your child’s smile is very important. To safeguard a child’s health and wellbeing and set them up for a lifetime of optimal oral health, a team effort between the parent, child and dentist is essential. The dentist should teach parents how to properly instruct their children to brush and floss, thus reinforcing the lessons and instructions given while at periodic dental examinations.
Regular cleaning and topical fluoride application procedures in the dental office are very valuable in the maintenance of optimal oral health. Equally important is the daily effort at home to not only clean and floss the teeth but also to maintain a healthy diet. Teaching your child that regular dental visits are important helps reinforce your oral hygiene efforts at home and teaches your child the importance of healthy teeth and good looking smiles.
Dental Cleaning and Scaling
Also known as oral prophylaxis or “prophy”, this procedure involves scaling of tooth surfaces to remove hard calculus or “tartar” that has accumulated, followed by a soft rubber cup cleaning to remove soft plaque. Plaque builds up on a daily basis and while one’s daily effort to clean the teeth are good, the supportive measures that dentists perform during professional dental cleaning is going to ensure the complete maintenance of one’s oral health condition.
Plaque that has collected may harden as tartar or calculus on the tooth or tooth root surface. Calculus deposits once formed cannot be removed by brushing and flossing at home. Calculus can only be removed through a professional cleaning with a scaling instrument by a dentist. Periodic calculus removal will help prevent gum disease.
A dental cleaning procedure is prescribed every six months or twice a year. For as short as 15 minutes to an hour, a surface or deep cleaning procedure may be performed and this is concluded by a brushing and polishing. With a prophy paste and small brush, the surface is cleaned just as one would during a normal brushing technique, and the surface is given an even more impressive shine, the teeth are polished with a rubber cup using dental pumice.
Topical Fluoride Applications
Another valuable preventive measure involves the regular application of topical fluoride to the tooth surface. It may be applied in a gel form using trays which holds the gel against the tooth surface or may be applied by a dental assistant. Fluoride varnishes can also be applied to the tooth surfaces of younger children with less worry about ingestion of the fluoride. Prior to application of fluoride, the teeth are thoroughly cleaned in order to allow the fluoride to penetrate into the tooth enamel. Following fluoride application, it is ideal to refrain from eating or drinking for 30 minutes.
Fluoride is an amazing element, which helps to strengthen teeth when applied to the tooth surface. Although topical fluoride applications can be beneficial at any age, it is most beneficial for newly erupted teeth and throughout the teen years.
A dental cleaning and topical fluoride application procedure is usually performed alongside each other. After thoroughly cleaning the surface of the mouth, fluoride is applied to the teeth.
Contact Dr. Beap today to schedule an appointment.
