What to Do Before Going to a Dentist for Teeth Cleaning
Prepare For The Basics at The Dentist
Read on to learn the basics of preparing for visits to dental professionals below, helping to reduce discomfort, save time, and ensure you have the confidence to have a dental professional work on your teeth.
Avoid Foods that Are Bad for Oral Health
Stay clear from sugary foods before visiting the dentist. Reduce your coffee intake, which will aid in keeping your teeth and gums healthier. Coffee can also stain your teeth.
Replace Your Toothbrush Regularly
Bacteria also build up on toothbrushes. In addition, the bristles wear out over time. If you’ve had your toothbrush for six months or the bristles show signs of wear, replace it to keep it working as it should. Also, place it in a hygienic spot to protect it from germs.
Don’t Try to Whiten Beforehand – the Dental Professionals Will Do the Work
You’re paying for the dental cleaning and whitening. You might as well trust the medical professionals to do a stellar job. They understand that certain foods, smoking, and some beverages can stain or yellow teeth. They’re happy to clean and whiten your teeth professionally.
In addition, even the best over-the-counter whitening applied just before the dental visit will increase teeth sensitivity. You’d rather want to whiten or brighten your teeth after the cleaning than do whitening beforehand. If you wish to do the whitening as well, stipulate such when making your appointment.
Get Over the Fear Factor with Calming Music
For a small percentage of people, the mere thought of dentists might make them break out in sweat because of anxiety. A larger percentage of people may be moderately scared of dental appointments. If you’re among them, you’re not alone.
Take a few deep breaths before entering the consulting room. But even before that, listen to calming music and remember that dentists and oral hygienists are professionals and are just as concerned for your well-being as you are. With modern technology, advanced techniques, and superb chair-side manner, dentists will generally do a good job to make you feel at ease and to minimise discomfort.
Write Down the Questions You Want to Ask the Dentist
Since visits to dentists for teeth cleaning are usually at intervals of six or twelve months, it can be a while before you can get another opportunity to ask questions. Write down those questions rather than relying on your memory. The moment you walk into the dental office, you’ll most probably will forget most of the questions. Having a short list will help to get the answers before you sit down in the chair.
You might, for instance, want to ask why after using a specific toothpaste, it feels as if you have eaten sweets. Or perhaps you’ve been struggling with teeth sensitivity when you drink cold beverages. Maybe you’ve noticed some gum recession and want a professional opinion regarding such. List those questions and don’t be shy to ask.
Pre-Clean Your Teeth, but Don’t Go Overboard
Dentists have the specialist equipment and expertise to perform deep cleaning and whitening. You’re visiting a medical professional who will do the work. So, you don’t have to try and do their job for them. That said, having a clean mouth beforehand will help to you give the confidence to sit back and relax while your teeth get the golden treatment.
Perform your normal brush routine just before you depart from home for your dental cleaning appointment. Don’t eat or drink anything afterwards. It will affect the cleanliness of your mouth and you might end up eating something that affects your breath.
It will also make the process easier for the dental professional as they can assess to what standard you normally clean your teeth. If there’s a problem, they can quickly detect it and advise you on correct oral hygiene routines. Pre-cleaning also helps to reduce the risk of bacteria transfer from your mouth to the dentist or oral hygienist.
Flush with a Mouthwash to Create a Hygienic Oral Environment
Flush and rinse your mouth with a quality mouthwash to reduce the risk of bad breath. It will also help to remove any pieces of food stuck between the teeth and reduce tartar build-up.
Floss Like You Normally Do to Get Rid of Particles Stuck Between Teeth
Flossing helps to remove particles stuck in between teeth. If you leave the particles there, bacterial growth will be enhanced. Getting rid of the harmful bacteria is far more time consuming than to spend a minute flossing.
Don’t Eat or Drink Before the Dental Cleaning Appointment
Although visits to the dental professional rarely end up as emergencies, you want to be sure you’re prepared. The dental practitioner might have to perform a procedure that requires a local anaesthetic, and then you don’t want to risk nausea, vomiting, or the food interfering with medication. It’s best to be prepared for any situation whether you visit dentists or doctors.
Take Your Oral Devices with for Appointments at a Dentist
Whether you have a device to prevent damage from teeth grinding at night or an extra set of dentures, bring these along to the dentist for a quick and thorough clean. The devices also go into your mouth and are prone to bacterial build-up. It doesn’t quite help you clean your teeth, just to put in a tarter-filled denture set or another oral appliance in your mouth afterwards. Apart from a thorough cleaning, the dental professional can visually inspect the device to make sure it is still without cracks and functions as it should.
Reschedule if You’re Sick – Use Our Online Booking System
Although going to the dental practitioner for a normal teeth check-up doesn’t usually involve medication, when it comes to teeth cleaning, rather reschedule if you’re sick. The cleaning process entails below-the-gum scraping, which can cause a bit of irritation on the gums. A minute amount of bacteria can enter your bloodstream, but if your immune system is already under attack from a medical condition, it can compromise your health.
With the convenient online booking system from Intercare, you can also cancel or reschedule appointments. Rather wait until you're healthy before visiting for a cleaning and whitening process.
Use Our “Find” Facility to Locate Dentists Near You
If you’ve never visited one of the Intercare dentists, you’ll be glad to know that it’s easy to find them, using our Find system. You can also book your appointment online or use the contact details of the dentist to make your appointment via the phone.
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