Scaling is an attitude of life
It is called “scaling” in dental jargon, which is both a cleaning and a treatment, and is affectionately called “preventive method” by the American people.
In other words, scaling is a kind of health care, which is a preventive measure to strengthen the body and prevent diseases.
Scaling is also an important treatment for gingivitis and periodontitis. At present, it is difficult for human medicine to treat periodontitis by drugs, and scaling is the first step to restore gum health.
The American people have good social security and personal health awareness.
They see the dentist regularly from a very young age and have their teeth cleaned regularly, usually once every six months to once a year.
In China, not everyone has the concept of health care, not everyone has the awareness of oral health, not enough dentists, and not enough scientific education and publicity. Therefore, I often encounter middle-aged and elderly patients in the clinic proudly said: “Doctor, my teeth have always been very good, never hurt, and I have never been to the hospital, only in the past few years began a little activity.”
Whenever this happens, I really sweat for their dental health.
Do you need to see a dentist only when it hurts?
Regular dental cleaning is also a dental checkup!
Many of my friends are not in the habit of seeing their teeth regularly, so regular dental cleanings are a good opportunity to give them a dental checkup.
However, many people have this feeling when they have their teeth cleaned for the first time: my teeth were fine, but they feel uncomfortable after the cleaning, so my teeth must be broken!
This leads to a lot of rumors and misconceptions about dental cleaning, let’s see, what have you heard?
Myth 1: Scaling will make the gap between the teeth bigger?
The truth is: scaling will only happen if you do it late!
Will scaling widen the gap between your teeth? Loose teeth?
This is one of the most widespread and harmful myths about dental scaling. Especially these two, often from the mouth of our elders, so that people can not refute.
When tartar accumulates in the teeth, it is like building a “brick wall” around the teeth. These cement-like tartars bind an already loose tooth into a whole, hiding the fact that the gums are receding.
The teeth that are not loose at this point are all illusions: the bone around the roots has shrunk under the long-term effects of tartar pressure and gum inflammation, and only about half of it remains.
After scaling, the yellow tartar is washed off, and the teeth stand in the loose gums, so it is strange that they can stand firmly.
But fortunately, scaling can remove the tartar and stop the progression of periodontitis so that the tooth will not continue to loosen. After the tartar is removed, the loosening will increase in the short term, but as the treatment progresses and the inflammation is eliminated, the roots around the tooth are re-established.
In other words, this loosening will improve with a dental cleaning.
Myth 2: If you brush your teeth every day, you don’t need to scaling?
The truth is: what is washed off by scaling is tartar, and tartar does not come off by brushing alone!
Where does tartar come from? Tartar is formed when calcium and bacteria from saliva are deposited on the teeth. The saliva and bacteria in the mouth are endless, and even if you brush your teeth every day, even if you are a dentist yourself, you can’t get rid of all the dirt on your teeth just by brushing.
There are always edges and corners that cannot be brushed, and as time goes by, a piece of tartar is formed, like an oyster lying on a rock by the sea, and the tartar sticks to your teeth, and then slowly grows, and it is so strong that it cannot be brushed off.
This is the time to use the professional tools of the dentist to do a thorough cleaning.
The situation is like every time I cook, I also clean up the kitchen, but every time my mom comes to my house, she has to scrub and wash the kitchen all day.
Get it?
Myth #3: Sore and sore after a dental cleaning?
The truth is: you may be too delicate!
Let’s start with a little aside.
When I was visiting people in the United States, there was one aspect that I was a little uncomfortable with at first.
Americans are very “delicate” and ask for anesthesia for basically everything they do. They were particularly fearful of all the pain they might experience during a dental visit, and did not reject anesthesia at all, and actively requested that the treatment be done under local anesthesia.
In my opinion, the pain caused by these operations is only minimal.
But even so, Americans have never asked for anesthesia during a dental cleaning!
I think this goes some way to show that scaling is not that scary. At least, it’s not that scary if you’re “used to it”.
It is true that scaling is unpleasant. But the easiest place for tartar to grow is in those locations that are not easy to clean, such as the junction of teeth and gums. This junction is where the white and hard enamel of the tooth itself and the tender and sensitive roots of the tooth, even in the absence of periodontal disease, can cause some discomfort when touched with metal instruments. However, this discomfort should be tolerable, so I hope you can find the courage to do so.
The other thing is, the first scaling, because the tartar accumulation is more, the doctor needs to use more power to clean repeatedly, the discomfort should also be more; and later on regular scaling, tartar is not more, clean up is not so uncomfortable.
Myth #4: You are sensitive after scaling! Afraid of cold and heat!
The truth is: the more sensitive you are, the more likely you are to have periodontal disease!
After a dental cleaning, many people report that their teeth have become more sensitive than before.
Please note! If you really feel this way, you should be glad you had your teeth cleaned in time! Because the appearance of this symptom indicates that you already have either mild or severe periodontitis!
Scaling is only the trigger of tooth sensitivity, the real root cause is periodontal disease.
If you are afraid or unwilling to clean your teeth because of the fear of sensitivity, then it will lead to the periodontal disease getting worse and eventually the teeth will loosen and fall off. If you need to overcome sensitivity, you can use all commercially available “anti-sensitivity toothpaste” to reduce the discomfort.