To maintain the appearance and health of your teeth, a procedure called teeth polishing is used. If you have stains on your teeth due to several dietary and lifestyle habits, such as smoking and consuming colored foods, you may need teeth polishing. It helps keep the surface of your teeth smooth after cleaning. It reduces the accumulation of plaque and calculus. This will help you improve oral hygiene and prevent gum disease. Bel Air MD Dentist enhances your aesthetically beautiful smile by providing effective teeth polishing treatment.
What is Teeth Polishing?
Teeth polishing is a dental procedure used to give your teeth a smooth and bright appearance. This helps in removing stains and plaque from your teeth. This gives a finishing touch to your teeth after regular dental cleaning. A rotating cup with an abrasive polishing paste is used for this procedure. It eliminates discoloration and stains and promotes good oral hygiene. Bel Air MD Dentist provides comprehensive teeth polishing services by their experienced dentist and oral hygienist.
Why Do We Need
Dental polishing is a preventive and cosmetic procedure and not a medical condition. A professional dentist recommends dental polishing to enhance the aesthetics of your smile. The following are reasons that indicate you require teeth polishing:
Visible Surface Stains: Your teeth may turn yellow or brown due to consumption of tea, coffee, wine, or tobacco.
Dull or Discoloured Teeth: Your teeth may need polishing due to loss of their natural color and shine.
Rough Tooth Surfaces: If you have rough or uneven teeth due to plaque or tartar buildup.
Bad Breath: Plaque caused by bacteria can lead to bad breath, which can be improved by flossing.
Post-Cleaning Maintenance: It is required after a dental cleaning procedure to give a smooth and shiny surface to your teeth.
Types of Dental Polishing
Different types of dental polishing are given below:
Therapeutic Polishing
- It is used when the root surface is exposed during a dental procedure.
- It helps treat tooth infections and reduces future risks.
- This type of polishing removes the microflora and endotoxins from the cementum.
Coronal / Cosmetic Polishing
- Cosmetic polishing helps you remove plaque and stains from the enamel.
- Abrasive agents are used in this type of polishing.
- It is used for aesthetic enhancement of your teeth.
Superficial Polishing
- It involves the polishing of your tooth crown.
- This type of polishing has minimal therapeutic benefits.
- It helps you improve the appearance of your teeth.
Selective Polishing
- This type of polishing is also called extrinsic stain removal.
- It is performed after scaling to remove remaining stains.
- It is done to prevent visible stains on your teeth and to avoid unnecessary enamel wear.
Procedure Involved in Teeth Polishing
The steps involved in the teeth polishing procedure are given below:
Initial Examination
Your dentist or dental hygienist will examine your teeth, evaluate the extent of plaque, tartar, or staining, and determine if polishing is necessary.
Professional Cleaning
The teeth are cleaned before polishing to remove plaque and tartar by using ultrasonic or manual scalers.
Preparation of Polishing Paste
A prophylaxis paste or polishing paste is used. It can be coarse, medium or fine depending on the intensity of the stains and the clinical needs of polishing.
we Usage of Polishing Paste
Paste placement is done with a slow-speed hand piece equipped with a rotating rubber cup or bristle brush. The paste is applied to the cup and pressed lightly on the surface of the teeth.
Cleaning the Teeth
The paste is spread on the surface of the enamel by spinning the rubber cup on the teeth, which is then polished off. This polishes the teeth and removes the stains and plaque.
Washing
The mouth is washed to ensure that no paste or debris is left on the surface of the teeth.
Flossing and Final Check
After the washing, your dentist will floss your teeth to clean between teeth and do a final checkup to ensure that your teeth are polished and stain-free.
Post-Care After Teeth Polishing
Following a session of teeth polishing, you should follow the post-care tips to maintain the clean and smooth surface of your teeth. It helps to prevent future plaque accumulation or surface staining. The main post-care tips are given below:
Good Oral Hygiene
Use fluoride toothpaste to brush your teeth twice a day. Floss regularly and use a mouthwash recommended by your dentist. This helps you avoid the formation of plaque and stains.
Stay Hydrated
Adequate water intake helps you reduce food particles and bacteria in the mouth and it makes your teeth clean and fresh.
Use the Soft-Bristled Toothbrush
Use a soft brush as it prevents wear or roughening of enamel. It minimizes enamel abrasion.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Eat a healthy diet as it also prevents plaque and tartar buildup in the oral entities.
Avoid Smoking
Avoid smoking, as smoking or tobacco is a big cause of teeth discoloration. Smoking contributes significantly to extrinsic staining and diminishes the polishing results.
Get Regular Dental Check-Up Visits
Professional cleanings should be done every 6 months because they help to maintain oral health.
Is It Possible to Polish Your Teeth at Home?
Yes, you can clean your teeth at home. However, it must be done carefully. Home remedies such as whitening toothpaste, baking soda, or electric toothbrushes that have brushes with polishing heads can help in removing slight surface stains. Such techniques are neither as efficacious nor as safe as professional dental polishing. Overuse of abrasive material can lead to the destruction of enamel or aggravate gum disease. Do not attempt any home methods of polishing without consulting your dentist first, since they may cause damage to your teeth and gums.
FAQs
Is teeth polishing the same as teeth cleaning?
No. Teeth cleaning involves the removal of plaque and tartar from above and below the gumline, while polishing smooths and shines the surface of the teeth after cleaning to remove surface stains and make teeth look cleaner and brighter.
Do teeth polishing whiten teeth?
Tooth polishing can remove the superficial stains, rendering teeth brighter, but it will not transform their natural color at all. To make it even whiter, professional teeth whitening will be needed.
How often should I get my teeth polished?
Teeth polishing during regular dental cleanings should be done every 6 months. It may vary depending on your dental health and habits on staining habits such as smoking or diet.
Is teeth polishing painful?
No, it is not painful, and usually there is no pain associated with teeth polishing. You will only experience mild pressure or vibration but it is a comfortable and gentle process.
Can I polish my teeth at home?
Whitening toothpaste or baking soda are mild products that can be used to clear light stains instead of professional polishing, which is safer and more effective. The excess use of abrasive substances at home may cause damage to your enamel.
