Why Teeth Are Polished
A clean smile feels good, and a smooth smile feels even better. That silky finish after a dental cleaning visit with your dentist in Yuba City comes from polishing. It’s one of the last steps in a professional cleaning routine, and it does more than make teeth shine.
Even with good daily oral hygiene, stains are left over on the surface of your teeth. These stains come from many sources, such as coffee, tea, red wine, tobacco products, and certain types of natural or artificial pigments in food. All of these items eventually wear down and dull the natural color of your enamel.
Dental polishing removes these surface stains. If the stains on your teeth are not deep or stubborn, polishing will often accomplish the same goals as a tooth whitening. If a good polish leaves you wanting even whiter teeth, that is something you should arrange via a consultation with your dentist in Yuba City after your dental cleaning.
In addition to removing surface stains, polishing also smooths out small rough spots on your teeth where plaque loves to grow. This helps prevent new plaque from forming between appointments. It also reduces the risk that you will need emergency care for toothaches caused by decay.
Tools Used for Polishing
Dental polishing uses simple tools, but they work well together.
1. Prophy cup and handpiece
This prophy cup is made of rubber and spins very slowly at the end of a handpiece. The cup holds a special paste for polishing. As the hygienist rubs the prophy cup against each of your teeth, you feel a gentle vibration (some say it tickles their teeth and gums).
2. Polishing paste
The pastes used in dental polishing come in varying degrees of grittiness. Some feel relatively smooth, others feel slightly coarse (for removing heavier stains). Offered in various flavors, the purpose of the paste is to both lift the stains and smooth the enamel on the surface of your teeth.
3. Floss and rinse
After polishing, the dental hygienist flosses between your teeth and then rinses away any remaining paste and debris. This gets any leftover grit out from between your teeth and is a final check that nothing was missed during your cleaning.
Working together, these tools and techniques leave you with a fresh and clean mouth feel.
A Simple Step With Lasting Impact
While it might seem minor compared to other aspects of a dental cleaning, tooth polishing has an important function. It creates a smoother surface that is resistant to stain accumulation and completes the cleaning process with a nice finish. Regular dental cleanings, proper brushing and flossing at home, and timely treatment of any dental problems or emergencies are vital to maintaining a healthy smile. At the Yuba City Dentistry Group, our experienced staff provides comprehensive dentistry services, including urgent care and emergency treatment. Contact us and ensure that your smile remains healthy and pain-free!
