Recommendations after professional teeth cleaning

To the question “What should be understood by professional teeth cleaning?” one can answer briefly: it is cleaning performed by a doctor at a dental clinic. However, a more detailed answer can be given, as technological advances allow doctors to perform various types of professional cleaning:

• classic (removal of dental plaque and tartar using ultrasound);
• air polishing (removal of plaque and pigmentation, as well as polishing using a stream of water, air, and fine particles of abrasive material);
• gum curettage (removal of plaque and tartar beneath the mucosa (gums));
• enamel polishing with professional remineralizing paste.

Indications for professional cleaning:

• presence of tartar;
• presence of dental plaque;
• mucosal inflammation (gingivitis);
• tooth pigmentation;
• periodontitis;
• increased tooth sensitivity.

Advantages of professional cleaning:

• thorough removal of tartar;
• caries prevention;
• prevention of mucosal diseases;
• early-stage disease diagnosis;
• improved aesthetics.

At Osadchyi Dental Clinic, we recommend professional cleaning and a routine examination every six months. However, depending on the clinical situation (for example, during orthodontic treatment), the intervals may change: the time between cleanings may be shortened to 3-4 months. Regardless of whether we are talking about our patients or patients of other clinics, we advise always checking with your doctor about recommendations after professional oral hygiene and strictly following them.

To preserve the results for a longer period and maintain oral health, it is necessary to follow simple restrictions and recommendations after professional teeth cleaning.

What to do after teeth cleaning:

1. Maintain hygiene (brush your teeth twice a day and use dental floss to remove food particles between teeth).
2. Use products recommended by your doctor (in some cases, the dentist may advise using fluoride rinses or gels, while in other clinical situations, they may recommend fluoride-free toothpastes).
3. Limit sugar consumption (sugar-containing products increase the risk of caries development).
4. Follow the schedule of routine examinations and cleanings.

What not to do after teeth cleaning

Recommendations regarding what not to do after tartar removal can be conditionally divided into temporary and permanent restrictions.

Temporary restrictions that should be observed in the first few hours (or days) after cleaning include:

1. Eating food and drinks (you should refrain from eating and drinking for several hours to give the oral cavity time to recover after the procedure).
2. Consuming very cold/hot food or drinks (extreme temperatures can provoke increased tooth sensitivity after cleaning).
3. Consuming staining products (to preserve the polishing effect, you should refrain from consuming tea, coffee, red wine, etc. for at least a few hours, and preferably days, after cleaning).
4. Active physical exercise (this restriction applies in cases involving mucosal treatment or gum curettage).

Among permanent restrictions, dentists worldwide include smoking, which not only provokes the development of various diseases, including mucosal conditions, but also leads to the appearance of pigment spots on teeth. Of course, patients are reluctant to give up this bad habit, but at least immediately after teeth cleaning, it is not worth smoking.

The question of how to care for teeth after cleaning should be approached individually. Yes, general recommendations and restrictions work for everyone, but there are patients who need additional products prescribed:

• for increased tooth sensitivity before and after cleaning, it is recommended to use specialized toothpaste and rinses;
• for increased risk of caries, it is recommended to use fluoride-containing gels and pastes;
• for increased tendency to plaque formation, it is recommended to use indicator tablets to monitor independent tooth brushing.

More precise recommendations after professional teeth cleaning are given by the treating doctor, as they may vary depending on the clinical situation. We also advise our patients not to use cleaning products without prior consultation. In dentistry, as in general medical practice, the principle applies: self-medication is harmful to your health.