Dental Cleanings in Mercer Island, WA
Professional dental cleanings at Islander Dental Arts help maintain beautiful smiles.
Even if you’re a great brusher and flosser, you’re probably missing a few spots you don’t even realize. These missed spots can lead to tooth decay, staining, pesky plaque buildup, and even serious disease.
By scheduling regular professional dental cleanings in Mercer Island, WA, our team at Islander Dental Arts can help you maintain and even improve your smile!
We also use gentle laser therapy to reduce harmful bacteria below the gumline and support healthier gum tissue.
Oral hygiene cleanings can:
We advise that patients schedule their maintenance visits tailored to the health of their own gums and teeth, as recommended by our skilled dental professionals.
A thorough cleaning at your dentist’s office helps you maintain a bright and healthy smile, but it also helps prevent serious health issues that can be detected through your oral health. Poor dental hygiene is linked to gum disease, tooth loss, cardiovascular disease, bone loss, cancers, and various other problems.
- Step 1
Our dental hygienist checks your mouth to check the health of your gums before proceeding. Using a small mirror, we’re able to inspect hard-to-reach places that are usually difficult to see.
- Step 2
We start cleaning using an ultrasonic scaler, followed by hand scaling. We remove plaque on teeth, especially near the gumline and between teeth. The next part of cleaning is flossing to ensure we thoroughly clean each tooth.
- Step 3
The cleaning is complete (that was fast, right?). We’ll rinse and floss your teeth and provide a fluoride treatment if necessary. In addition to fluoride treatment, we may recommend other tips for the best ways to keep your teeth clean and healthy at home.
We recommend regular visits every three, four, or six months, depending on your unique needs, to make it easy to quickly and effectively clean your teeth. The longer you wait, the more buildup your teeth may have, which can make cleanings more involved.
Even if you’re overdue for a professional cleaning, we don’t judge—we’ll make the experience comfortable and stress-free from start to finish.
- What is the best oral hygiene routine?
We recommend you brush and floss your teeth twice a day, for two minutes each. Be sure to brush thoroughly so that you reach all parts of your teeth.
The equipment you use is essential for your daily routine. Make sure your toothbrush comfortably fits your mouth and has soft bristles. Brushes wear and tear over time, so pay attention and know when to replace your brush. Worn bristles won’t brush as well and may miss tight spaces. As for toothpaste, make sure it’s an FDA-approved fluoride toothpaste to prevent cavities.
- How do you take care of oral hygiene?
Brush twice a day and brush after meals if you can, using an FDA-approved fluoride toothpaste. Be sure to floss thoroughly as well.
In addition to maintaining oral hygiene at home, be sure to schedule regular dental visits so that the dentist can complete a professional cleaning and dental exam to prevent any severe complications.
One more piece that plays a huge role in oral hygiene that people don’t often think about is proper nutrition, not smoking, and avoiding “fizzy” beverages. What you put in your body affects your oral health and, in turn, your overall health.
- What does oral hygiene include?
Oral hygiene includes the practice of brushing and flossing to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. It’s crucial to the health of your teeth and gums, but also your overall health.
Dental hygiene affects your total well-being, and inadequate hygiene can negatively affect your life with issues ranging from bad breath to serious mouth diseases. Most people don’t realize it, but oral health is also linked to cardiovascular disease and different types of cancers.
- What is a routine dental cleaning?
Routine dental cleanings, known as prophylaxis, are professional cleanings every six months, completed by a dental hygienist or dentist. They’re a vital step in keeping your teeth and gums healthy.
Schedule your routine dental cleaning at Islander Dental Arts in Mercer Island, WA today.
- What is the difference between a dental cleaning and a deep cleaning?
Similar to dental cleaning, deep cleaning involves the removal of plaque and buildup. The difference is that a prophylaxis cleaning or “regular” one removes superficial buildup that can cause gingivitis, while a deep cleaning involves cleaning buildup below the gumline to treat advanced gingivitis called periodontal disease.
It’s a more in-depth cleaning that involves going deeper down the gumline, and the tooth root – the procedure is also called scaling and root planing. Deep cleaning treatment is necessary when bacteria and buildup develop below the gumline, which can lead to periodontal disease and tooth loss.
Deep cleanings are followed by more thorough dental cleanings called periodontal maintenance at an individualized recall schedule.
Meet your Mercer Island dentist who cares for the whole you, with compassion and transparency.
