Correct dental hygiene is essential to enjoy good dental health throughout our lives, especially in adulthood and as we get older.
However, it is not enough to follow a few correct hygiene habits and with a certain frequency and regularity. when brushing our teeth we do not reach all parts of the mouth alike, and plaque or biofilm tends to accumulate between the gum and the tooth, especially in the posterior areas of the oral cavity. If we also have an added problem, such as misplaced teeth, it will be even more difficult for us to carry out a thorough cleaning.
If not removed regularly, it hardens and becomes tartar, even more difficult to remove with a simple brush. And the accumulation of tartar causes other oral problems, such as gingivitis, periodontitis or halitosis.
What is prophylaxis?
Prophylaxis means "disease prevention", so this cleaning would be aimed at avoiding gum problems, and by concept it will be a simple and superficial cleaning. If there is gum disease such as gingivitis or periodontitis, the treatment will have to be more advanced, with deeper and more sequenced cleanings through scaling and root planing.
Dental prophylaxis consists of a professional oral cleaning, that is, a cleaning with techniques and tools that allow us to eliminate tartar, such as scaling, and bacterial plaque in all areas of the mouth.
In addition, a prophylaxis also helps us to remove stains from the teeth, to reduce inflammation of the gums and remineralize tooth enamel through the application of highly concentrated fluoride gel.
As a general rule, and depending on the oral health status of each patient, prophylaxis includes the following steps:
- We assess the state of oral health of the patient and we diagnose the individual situation of the gum of each tooth.
- We remove tartar adhered below the gum line, on the teeth and in the interdental spaces.
- We polish the surface of the teeth to remove stains and dental plaque.
It is a simple, economical and very effective treatment in the prevention of oral diseases. It usually takes no more than 20-30 minutes. If necessary, we apply techniques and products to minimize the tooth sensitivity.
When and how often is prophylaxis recommended?
Even if a person enjoys good oral health, it is recommended in any case to carry out a prophylaxis every six months, or at least once a year.
In the case of people with some periodontal disease, such as gingivitis or periodontitis, it will most likely need to be done more often. Even a deeper gum cleaning, known as scaling and root planing, may be recommended. Root scaling is a technique that is applied in cases of advanced gingivitis or periodontitis, to eliminate periodontal pockets and the tartar accumulated between the gum and the tooth.
In the case of tooth malposition or other alterations, it is also recommended to carry out prophylaxis with some frequency, since it is more difficult to reach all the nooks and crannies with normal brushing.
We recommend that you go to your dentist at least once every six months, and that he evaluates and recommends the most appropriate frequency of dental prophylaxis for your specific case. Prevention is always better!