teeth cleaning & cavity prevention

Dental cleanings can be divided into three main types, each tailored to different oral health needs:

1. Prophylaxis (Preventive Cleaning): This is a routine cleaning intended for people who do not have a history of gum disease. It focuses on maintaining oral health by removing plaque and tartar build-up before they lead to issues.
2. Scaling and Root Planing (Deep Cleaning): This cleaning is used specifically to treat active gum disease. It involves a more intensive process to clean below the gum line, removing plaque and tartar from tooth roots to help halt gum disease progression.
3. Periodontal Maintenance (Ongoing Care): For patients with a history of gum disease, this cleaning is performed regularly after scaling and root planing to monitor and manage the condition, helping to prevent further damage from gum disease.

While these cleaning types use similar instruments and techniques to remove plaque and tartar, the time required for each can vary significantly depending on the level of care needed for the individual’s oral health condition.

Cavities, also known as dental caries or tooth decay, occur when bacteria in the mouth produce acids that erode the enamel, creating holes in the teeth. Some people are more prone to cavities based on the types of bacteria in their mouth, but diet and oral hygiene also affect how frequently you get cavities. Good daily habits can help everyone reduce their risk of getting cavities.

• Diet: To help prevent cavities, limit sugary foods and beverages especially sticky candy and soda. Bacteria in your mouth feed on sugar, producing acids that erode enamel. After you eat or drink, it usually takes about 30 minutes for your saliva to neutralize acids in your mouth. This means that slowly snacking on candy or sipping soda is worse for your teeth than finishing your treats quickly – the longer your teeth are exposed to acids the more damage occurs.
• Oral hygiene: Keeping your teeth clean is crucial to preventing cavities and protecting your teeth. We recommend:
• Brushing Twice a Day with Fluoride Toothpaste: Brushing in the morning and before bed is essential for removing plaque and food particles. Using a toothpaste with fluoride helps strengthen tooth enamel and makes it more resistant to acids. Brush for at least two minutes, making sure to reach all surfaces of your teeth.
• Flossing Daily: Flossing removes plaque and food particles from between teeth, areas that a toothbrush can’t reach.
• Rinsing with a Fluoride Mouthwash: For added protection, use a fluoride mouthwash after brushing or during the day. This can help coat the enamel in fluoride, giving your teeth extra resistance against acid attacks. 
• Professional fluoride treatments help prevent cavities, and can also reduce tooth sensitivity. At Alpine Vista Dental we typically use fluoride varnish which is one of the most effective fluoride products. Varnishes are more concentrated than the fluoride in toothpaste and adhere to teeth for several hours, allowing better absorption. Fluoride is a safe and simple way to help protect your teeth. Studies have shown that applying fluoride varnish twice a year can reduce cavities by up to 43%.

Both manual and electric toothbrushes have their advantages, so the choice depends on individual needs, preferences, and budget. For most patients an electric toothbrush will result in better oral health.

Electric toothbrushes typically provide a more efficient and consistent clean, thanks to their rotating or vibrating bristle heads. Studies have shown they can be more effective at reducing plaque and gingivitis than manual brushes, particularly for people who struggle with maintaining the correct brushing technique. Most electric toothbrushes include built-in timers to encourage brushing for the recommended two minutes and offer different settings for sensitive teeth or whitening needs. However, they tend to be more expensive than manual toothbrushes and require charging or battery replacements, which can be inconvenient for some users.

Manual toothbrushes, in contrast, are affordable and widely available. They don’t require batteries or charging, making them a convenient choice for travel. When used with the correct technique, manual toothbrushes can effectively remove plaque and help maintain oral health. However, they demand more effort from the user to ensure a thorough clean, especially in hard-to-reach areas. Additionally, without the guidance of a built-in timer, some users may fall short of brushing for the full two minutes.

We floss to remove plaque and buildup from between the teeth. The contacts between those teeth vary in how tight they are. Some people have very tight contacts that are difficult to floss through and others have loose contacts that are very easy to floss through. We generally recommend people choose the thickest, most textured floss that you can easily get between the teeth.

Water flossers are a great tool to help keep teeth clean and remove buildup from hard to reach places in the mouth. Water flossers are a fantastic adjunctive tool to use along with brushing and flossing. Cleaning your teeth is a lot like washing dishes in the sink. You can scrub your dishes with a wet brush and remove most of the material sticking to the dish, but if you rinse the dish after you’re done scrubbing, it will come out even cleaner. Using a water flosser after brushing and flossing helps to remove any plaque or buildup that is left over.