Teeth cleaning

Teeth cleaning is part of oral hygiene and involves the removal of dental plaque from teeth with the intention of preventing cavities (dental caries), gingivitis, and periodontal disease. People routinely clean their own teeth by brushing and interdental cleaning, and dental hygienists can remove hardened deposits (tartar) not removed by routine cleaning. Those with dentures and natural teeth may supplement their cleaning with a denture cleaner.

Brushing, scrubbing and flossing
Main articles: Tooth brushing and Dental floss

Brushing

Careful and frequent brushing with a toothbrush helps to prevent build-up of plaque bacteria on the teeth.[1] Electric toothbrushes were developed, and initially recommended for people with strength or dexterity problems in their hands, but they have come into widespread general use. The effectiveness of electric toothbrushes at reducing plaque formation and gingivitis is superior to conventional manual toothbrushes.[2]

Flossing

In addition to brushing, cleaning between teeth may help to prevent build-up of plaque bacteria on the teeth. This may be done with dental floss or interdental brushes.

80% of cavities occur in the grooves, or pits and fissures, of the chewing surfaces of the teeth,[3] however, there is no evidence currently showing that normal at-home flossing reduces the risk of cavities in these areas.[4]

Special appliances or tools may be used to supplement toothbrushing and interdental cleaning. These include special toothpicks, oral irrigators, and other devices. A 2015 Cochrane review found insufficient evidence to determine whether the interdental brushing decreases the levels of plaque when compared to flossing.[5]

Professional teeth cleaning
Dental hygienist polishing a person's teeth

Teeth cleaning (also known as prophylaxis, literally a preventive treatment of a disease) is a procedure for the removal of tartar (mineralized plaque) that may develop even with careful brushing and flossing, especially in areas that are difficult to reach in routine toothbrushing. It is often done by a dental hygienist. Professional cleaning includes tooth scaling and tooth polishing and debridement if too much tartar has accumulated. This involves the use of various instruments or devices to loosen and remove deposits from the teeth.

As to the frequency of cleaning, research on this matter is inconclusive. That is, it has neither been shown that more frequent cleaning leads to better outcomes nor that it does not. A review of the research literature on the question concluded "[t]he research evidence is not of sufficient quality to reach any conclusions regarding the beneficial and adverse effects of routine scaling and polishing for periodontal health and regarding the effects of providing this intervention at different time intervals".[6] Thus, any general recommendation for a frequency of routine cleaning (e.g. every six months, every year) has no empirical basis.[7][8]

Complications

Overly vigorous or incorrectly performed brushing or flossing may cause injury to the gingiva (gums). Improper or over-vigorous brushing may cause sore gums, damage to tooth enamel, gingivitis, and bleeding gums. Dentists and dental hygienists can instruct and demonstrate proper brushing or flossing techniques.[9]

Aerosols generated during dental cleaning procedures may spread infection.[10] During the COVID-19 pandemic on 12 August 2020, the World Health Organization recommended that routine dental checkups be delayed in areas of community transmission.[11]

Disinfection

Antiseptics are recommended.

Acidity regulation

Soda.

History

Historically, professional tooth cleaning was sometimes referred to as odontexesis (literally "tooth-scraping")[12] or odontexis ("scraping off"),[12] and the instruments involved odontoglyphs.[13]

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References
  1. Curtis, Jeannette (13 November 2007). "Effective Tooth Brushing and Flossing". WebMD. Retrieved 2007-12-24.
  2. Yaacob, Munirah; Worthington, Helen V.; Deacon, Scott A.; Deery, Chris; Walmsley, A. Damien; Robinson, Peter G.; Glenny, Anne-Marie (2014-06-17). "Powered versus manual toothbrushing for oral health". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (6): CD002281. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002281.pub3. ISSN 1469-493X. PMC 7133541. PMID 24934383.
  3. "Does Water Fluoridation Affect the Pits and Fissures of the Tooth, the Area Where Most Cavities Occur? Healthy Teeth For A Lifetime". 13 November 2007. Archived from the original on 30 July 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
  4. Hujoel, P.P.; Cunha-Cruz, J.; Banting, D.W.; Loesche, W.J. (April 2006). "Dental flossing and interproximal caries: a systematic review". J Dent Res. 85 (4): 298–305. doi:10.1177/154405910608500404. PMID 16567548.
  5. Poklepovic, Tina; Worthington, Helen V.; Johnson, Trevor M.; Sambunjak, Dario; Imai, Pauline; Clarkson, Jan E.; Tugwell, Peter (2013-12-18). "Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (12): CD009857. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009857.pub2. ISSN 1469-493X. PMID 24353078.
  6. Bader, Jim (2005). "Insufficient evidence to understand effect of routine scaling and polishing". Evidence-Based Dentistry. 6 (1): 5–6. doi:10.1038/sj.ebd.6400317. PMID 15789039.
  7. Mark Burhenne DDS. "How Often Should I Go to the Dentist for a Teeth Cleaning?". Ask the Dentist.
  8. Worthington, Helen V.; Clarkson, Jan E.; Bryan, Gemma; Beirne, Paul V. (2013-11-07). "Routine scale and polish for periodontal health in adults". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (11): CD004625. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004625.pub4. ISSN 1469-493X. PMID 24197669.
  9. "Better Information. Better Health". Web MD. 12 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-24. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. Harrel, Stephen K. (November 2004). "Airborne spread of disease--the implications for dentistry". Journal of the California Dental Association. 32 (11): 901–906. ISSN 1043-2256. PMID 15651466.
  11. "Delay routine dental checkups in areas of COVID spread: WHO". Reuters. 2020-08-12. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  12. George Bion Denton (1958). The Vocabulary of Dentistry and Oral Science: A Manual for the Study of Dental Nomenclature. Bureau of Library and Indexing Service, American Dental Association.
  13. The Journal of the Michigan State Dental Association, Volume 33, Issue 6 - Volume 34, Issue 12. The Michigan State Dental Association. 1951.
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