Cleaning

Name: MOND dental practices
Price range: $

Good, daily oral hygiene ensures beautiful, properly cared-for teeth. But sometimes even that is not enough.

How often should you brush?

Good, daily oral hygiene is the cornerstone of beautiful, properly cared-for teeth. It is recommended that you brush twice daily, preferably using an electric toothbrush as this should thoroughly and effectively remove plaque.

In addition, using interdental cleaners such as dental floss and interdental brushes (typically coloured brushes for brushing between your gums) is crucial for cleaning the spaces between your teeth and preventing gum disease. By following this routine daily, you can enjoy healthy, radiant teeth throughout your life.

Professional cleaning by your MOND dentist

However, in some situations, even this is not enough. On these occasions, the surface of your teeth needs to be professionally cleaned, especially in those areas prone to the build-up of plaque and tartar. You mainly find these at the level at which the salivary glands exit (inside of the lower incisors and outside of the upper molars). Consumption of products that lead to sever discolouration, such as tea, coffee, red wine and cigarettes, can also result in your teeth becoming stained and discoloured.

If addressed frequently and in a timely manner by the dentist or dental hygienist, this discolouration can be removed quickly and painlessly. We do this using an ultrasonic cleaning procedure – sometimes in combination with hand instruments – before finishing off the process with polishing paste or the dentist blasting your teeth with salt spray for those difficult-to-reach places between the teeth.

These treatments usually take place as part of your check-up appointment. However, if too much tartar is present, we recommend booking a separate appointment for this.

When is cleaning not enough?

If the presence of plaque and tartar is so severe that the gums are also inflamed (gingivitis) and/or the supporting tissues such as the jawbone are affected (periodontitis), we will refer you to a periodontist. This dental specialist specialises in treating all gum disease and then works with you to create a treatment plan to address it. For more information, please see the periodontology section.