Dental Deep Cleaning Aftercare
In need of a dental deep cleaning and wondering what to expect? General dentistry focuses on ensuring patients' mouths are healthy, which includes deep cleanings. Knowing what to do before and after a deep cleaning helps to support a healthy mouth.
About dental deep cleanings
Want to understand why a dental deep cleaning is necessary? Also known as scaling and root planing, a deep cleaning is often required for dental patients who do not undergo regular dental cleanings. Regular cleanings help remove any plaque or tartar buildup on one's teeth. Plague or tartar can build up beneath the gum line when a long time goes by without undergoing a routine dental cleaning. Once the gum line is infected, only a dental deep cleaning can restore a patient's dental health.
Aftercare instructions
The list below includes examples of some of the more important aftercare instructions dental patients need to follow after undergoing a deep cleaning to improve the overall health of their mouths.
Eating
Patients who receive any type of anesthesia should not eat until all of the numbness has worn off. It is necessary to avoid biting one's lips, cheeks, or tongue when chewing. Patients who have not undergone anesthesia must wait a minimum of two hours before eating. Patients should consume only soft foods during the first 72 hours. They should also completely avoid spicy foods and alcohol until their mouth has completely healed, which tends to be somewhere between three days and two weeks.
Saltwater rinse
Once 24 hours have passed following the dental deep cleaning procedure, patients need to rinse their mouth with saltwater. Saltwater helps to keep one's mouth free from infection, which is important after undergoing a dental deep cleaning. While every patient will receive their own specific instructions, general guidelines for rinsing the mouth with salt include doing so four to six times a day for at least a couple of weeks. Add about ¼ teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water to make a salt water rinse at home.
Oral care
While the patient's mouth is healing, they should use gentle care when brushing their teeth. This requires them to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and quality tooth floss. While patients can use water flossers instead of regular tooth floss, it is important not to place a lot of force around the gum line area. Patients can use a mouth rinse after 48 hours; however, dentists recommend saltwater. Patients prescribed antibiotics need to take the full course, as this helps ensure an overall healthy mouth.
Schedule an appointment today
Dental patients needing a dental deep cleaning should be treated as soon as possible. Otherwise, their dental problems will continue to worsen, which could require additional treatment. To learn more about dental deep cleanings, reach out to our Los Angeles office today to schedule an appointment.
Request an appointment here: https://www.beverlyhillsfamilydentalgroup.com or call Beverly Hills Prestige Dental Group at (310) 286-9655 for an appointment in our Los Angeles office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Dental Cleaning and Examinations in Los Angeles, CA.
Recent Posts
When a child first goes to the dentist for a dental cleaning, there is often anxiety and resistance, which is completely normal. Thankfully, general dentists who work with children are trained to be extra patient and gentle. Additionally, they are able to provide parents with tips that can be helpful in preparing the child for…
Wondering just how beneficial a professional dental cleaning is? Routine dental cleanings help patients avoid dental-related problems by removing hardened plaque and calculus. Most patients need to undergo these cleanings twice a year.Preventive dentistry aims to keep a patient's mouth healthy so they do not have to undergo dental treatments to experience a healthy mouth.…
Understanding the importance of undergoing a dental exam is something everyone needs to do. While many people think this type of dental appointment simply looks for cavities, it is in fact an appointment that supports good oral health. This is because a dental professional will look for a number of different types of dental problems…
General dentistry focuses on routine oral health care for patients of all ages. This includes oral maintenance such as cleanings and examinations, as well as general treatments and preventive care. Preventive care often gets overlooked as it relates to general dentistry, however, it plays a key role in oral health. Keep reading to learn more…