Teeth cleaning is part of

oral hygiene Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping one's oral cavity clean and free of disease and other problems (e.g. bad breath) by regular brushing of the teeth (dental hygiene) and adopting good hygiene habits. It is important that oral hygiene be carr ...

and involves the removal of

dental plaque Dental plaque is a biofilm of microorganisms (mostly bacteria, but also fungi) that grows on surfaces within the mouth. It is a sticky colorless deposit at first, but when it forms Calculus (dental), tartar, it is often brown or pale yellow. It is ...

from

teeth A tooth (: teeth) is a hard, calcified structure found in the jaws (or mouths) of many vertebrates and used to break down food. Some animals, particularly carnivores and omnivores, also use teeth to help with capturing or wounding prey, tear ...

with the intention of preventing

cavities Cavity may refer to: Biology and healthcare *Body cavity, a fluid-filled space in many animals where organs typically develop ** Gastrovascular cavity, the primary organ of digestion and circulation in cnidarians and flatworms * Dental cavity or t ...

(dental caries),

gingivitis Gingivitis is a non-destructive disease that causes inflammation of the gums; ulitis is an alternative term. The most common form of gingivitis, and the most common form of periodontal disease overall, is in response to bacterial biofilms (also ...

, and

periodontal disease Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is a set of inflammatory conditions affecting the tissues surrounding the teeth. In its early stage, called gingivitis, the gums become swollen and red and may bleed. It is considered the main c ...

. People routinely clean their own teeth by brushing and

interdental cleaning Interdental cleaning or interproximal cleaning is part of oral hygiene where the aim is to clean the areas in between the teeth, otherwise known as the proximal surfaces of teeth. This is to remove the dental plaque in areas a toothbrush cannot rea ...

, and

dental hygienist A dental hygienist or oral hygienist is a licensed dental professional, registered with a dental association or regulatory body within their country of practice. Prior to completing clinical and written board examinations, registered dental hygie ...

s can remove hardened deposits ( tartar) not removed by routine cleaning. Those with

dentures Dentures (also known as false teeth) are prosthetic devices constructed to replace missing teeth, supported by the surrounding soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity. Conventional dentures are removable ( removable partial denture or comp ...

and natural teeth may supplement their cleaning with a

denture cleaner A denture cleaner (also termed denture cleanser) is used to clean dentures when they are out of the mouth. The main use is to control the growth of microorganisms on the dentures, especially ''Candida albicans'', thereby preventing denture-relate ...

Brushing, scrubbing and flossing

Brushing

Careful and frequent brushing with a

toothbrush A toothbrush is a special type of brush used to clean the Human tooth, teeth, gingiva, gums, and tongue. It consists of a head of tightly clustered bristles, atop of which toothpaste can be applied, mounted on a handle (grip), handle which facil ...

helps to prevent build-up of

plaque Plaque may refer to: Commemorations or awards * Commemorative plaque, a plate, usually fixed to a wall or other vertical surface, meant to mark an event, person, etc. * Memorial Plaque (medallion), issued to next-of-kin of dead British military p ...

bacteria on the teeth.

Electric toothbrush An electric toothbrush, motorized toothbrush, or battery-powered toothbrush is a toothbrush that makes rapid automatic bristle motions, either back-and-forth oscillating, oscillation or rotation-oscillation (where the brush head alternates clockwi ...

es 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. Instructions
Source: Ensuring effective brushing is important in getting rid of food and bacteria properly. Step 1) Place a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on the brush and hold at a 45-degree angle. Step 2) In small circular and back and forth motions, move the brush gently along teeth and gums. Step 3) Brush all surfaces inside the mouth, including the tongue. Ensure that the back sides of the teeth (top and bottom rows) are being cleaned by brushing vertically in up and down motions. Tip) It is recommended to use a 2/2 strategy which includes brushing two minutes in the morning and two minutes at night as a minimum standard for healthy gums and teeth.

Flossing

In addition to brushing, cleaning between teeth may help to prevent build-up of

bacteria on the teeth. This may be done with

dental floss Dental floss is a cord of thin filaments, typically made of nylon or silk, used in interdental cleaning to remove food and dental plaque from between teeth or places a toothbrush has difficulty reaching or is unable to reach. Its regular use a ...

interdental brush A toothbrush is a special type of brush used to clean the teeth, gums, and tongue. It consists of a head of tightly clustered bristles, atop of which toothpaste can be applied, mounted on a handle which facilitates the cleaning of hard-to-reach ...

es. 80% of cavities occur in the grooves, or pits and fissures, of the chewing surfaces of the teeth, * however, there is no evidence currently showing that normal at-home flossing reduces the risk of cavities in these areas. Special appliances or tools may be used to supplement toothbrushing and interdental cleaning. These include special

toothpick A toothpick is a small thin stick of wood, plastic, bamboo, metal, bone or other substance with at least one and sometimes two pointed ends to insert between teeth to remove detritus, usually after a meal. Toothpicks are also used for festive ...

oral irrigator An oral irrigator (also called a dental water jet, water flosser or, by the brand name of the best-known such device, Waterpik) is a home dental care device which uses a stream of high-pressure pulsating water intended to remove dental plaque a ...

s, 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.

Professional teeth cleaning

Teeth cleaning (also known as ''

prophylaxis Preventive healthcare, or prophylaxis, is the application of healthcare measures to prevent diseases.Hugh R. Leavell and E. Gurney Clark as "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting physical and mental health a ...

'', 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

. Professional cleaning includes

tooth scaling Scaling and root planing, also known as conventional periodontal therapy, non-surgical periodontal therapy or deep cleaning, is a procedure involving removal of dental plaque and calculus (scaling or debridement) and then smoothing, or planing, ...

tooth polishing Tooth polishing procedures are done to smooth the surfaces of teeth and restorations. The purpose of polishing is to remove extrinsic stains, remove dental plaque accumulation, increase aesthetics and to reduce corrosion of metallic restorations. T ...

, and

debridement Debridement is the medical removal of dead, damaged, or infected tissue to improve the healing potential of the remaining healthy tissue. Removal may be surgical, mechanical, chemical, autolytic (self-digestion), or by maggot therapy. In ...

if too much tartar has accumulated. This involves the use of various instruments or devices to loosen and remove deposits from the teeth. The American Dental Association has designated the code D1110 for adult prophylaxis or dental cleaning and has also designated the code D1120 for the same procedure in children. 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 " e 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". Thus, any general recommendation for a frequency of routine cleaning (e.g. every six months, every year) has no empirical basis.

Complications

Overly vigorous or incorrectly performed brushing or flossing may cause injury to the

gingiva The gums or gingiva (: gingivae) consist of the mucosal tissue that lies over the mandible and maxilla inside the mouth. Gum health and disease can have an effect on general health. Structure The gums are part of the soft tissue lining of the ...

(gums). Improper or over-vigorous brushing may cause sore gums, damage to tooth enamel,

, and bleeding gums. Dentists and dental hygienists can instruct and demonstrate proper brushing or flossing techniques.

Aerosol An aerosol is a suspension (chemistry), suspension of fine solid particles or liquid Drop (liquid), droplets in air or another gas. Aerosols can be generated from natural or Human impact on the environment, human causes. The term ''aerosol'' co ...

s generated during dental cleaning procedures may spread infection. During the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

on 12 August 2020, the

World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a list of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations which coordinates responses to international public health issues and emergencies. It is headquartered in Gen ...

recommended that routine dental checkups be delayed in areas of community transmission. Characteristics and detection rate of SARS-CoV-2 in alternative sites and specimens related to dentistry has been extensively reviewed.

Disinfection

Antiseptics help reduce the number of microorganisms present in the oral cavity.

Antiseptics An antiseptic ( and ) is an antimicrobial substance or compound that is applied to living tissue to reduce the possibility of sepsis, infection, or putrefaction. Antiseptics are generally distinguished from ''antibiotics'' by the latter's abili ...

are recommended for both daily home care regimens and for use in the dental office setting. These products are used as a preprocedural rinse to reduce bacterial counts prior to routine dental treatments and injections. A common antiseptic rinsing agent used in the dental office is a 0.2% chlorhexidine product which provides a lowered bacterial count for more than 60 minutes.

Acidity and decay relationship

The regulation of acid production and exposure in the oral cavity is of the utmost importance to maintain healthy enamel. When enamel, cementum, and /or dentin are subjected to an increased number of

acidogenic Acidogenesis is the second stage in the four stages of anaerobic digestion: * Hydrolysis: A chemical reaction where particulates are solubilized and large polymers converted into simpler monomers; * Acidogenesis: A biological reaction where simple ...

and aciduric bacteria in dental

biofilm A biofilm is a Syntrophy, syntrophic Microbial consortium, community of microorganisms in which cell (biology), cells cell adhesion, stick to each other and often also to a surface. These adherent cells become embedded within a slimy ext ...

, the demineralization process begins. When acidogenic and aciduric bacteria predominate the oral flora, there is an increased risk of developing caries.

Reducing acid exposure

Dietary habits: * Reduce fermentable carbohydrate intake frequency * Limit snacking between meals and in the middle of the night * Avoid acidic beverages between meals * Use xylitol gum or mints between meals

History

Historically, professional tooth cleaning was sometimes referred to as ''odontexesis'' (literally "tooth-scraping") or ''odontexis'' ("scraping off"), and the instruments involved ''odontoglyphs''. Alfred C. Fones, known as the "father of dental hygiene," was the first to develop the role of a dental hygienist into the current concept of a dental educator and dental professional. The dental hygienist is qualified, same as a dentist, to perform routine dental cleanings.

References

External links

World Health Organization site on oral healthCosmetic Dentistry Clinic site on Dental Hygienist
{{Dentistry Dentistry procedures Oral hygiene ru:Чистка зубов sv:Tandhygien