Dental Cleanings in St. Paul, MN

Think back to the last time you and your family visited the dentist for your routine teeth cleaning. Was it more than six months ago? If so, you’re overdue! 

If every member of your family is in excellent oral health, it may seem silly or even unnecessary to visit the dentist twice every year. But regular trips to your St. Paul dentist is a huge part of what helps keep your smiles in tip-top shape. So, even if your mouths look clean and you have no concerns or questions about your oral health, it’s still vital that you all stay current on your dental appointments. 

In the informational sections below, we’ll discuss why seeing your dentist frequently is so necessary and how professional teeth cleanings can make a world of difference for your smile. And remember, at Highgrove Dental Care, we’re always accepting new patients into our St. Paul dental office—which means you can call us at (651) 698-3828 with questions or to schedule a teeth cleaning at any time! We believe consistent dental visits and frequent teeth cleanings are the first steps along the path to a better smile.

Why isn’t brushing my teeth enough to keep my mouth healthy? 

When you think about having good dental hygiene, the first image that probably comes to mind is a toothbrush. This visual represents a sort of “Dentistry 101” because it emphasizes how important it is to keep your teeth clean. 

Brushing and flossing your teeth each day is an integral part of good oral hygiene that you should never skip. If you follow proper techniques, ongoing home care can take you a long way in maintaining your smile. Ultimately, however, even perfect at-home dental hygiene habits are not enough to protect your smile. For this reason, we offer dental cleanings in St. Paul, MN. 

In-office dental cleanings pick up where personal oral hygiene leaves off. Every single person needs the help of teeth cleanings—even the world’s greatest toothbrushers and flossers. But why aren’t excellent, consistent dental habits enough? Because no matter how diligent your home care is, your toothbrush and floss cannot reach all areas of your teeth. 

Toothbrushes are excellent tools for fighting against plaque, but they aren’t perfect. Despite their effectiveness, toothbrushes simply aren’t designed to remove 100% of the gross, dangerous substances that build up in your mouth. Only professional dental cleanings performed by dentists and hygienists can thoroughly clean your teeth and break down tartar.

Professional dental cleanings are more thorough than the average toothbrushing. Our St. Paul dental cleanings allow us to remove tartar and bacteria from beneath your gums and between your teeth where bacteria grow. These areas are hard to reach with at-home teeth cleanings alone, and they’re more prone to dental decay.  

Getting a routine dental cleaning twice to several times per year can keep your teeth and gums healthy. Our professional hygienists provide gentle and thorough dental cleanings that leave you with smooth, fresh teeth. When you visit our St. Paul dentists for a dental cleaning, you can expect a handful of routine treatments that include:

• Bitewing or full-mouth X-rays
• Fluoride rinses
• Oral cancer screenings 
• Teeth polishing 
• Examination of any “problem areas” or concerns 

Regular dental cleanings are essential in maintaining your oral health because it allows us to evaluate your teeth and gums in detail. Combined with periodic oral evaluations, consistent preventive care can help you avoid common conditions such as decay and periodontal disease.

Our hygienists use precision instruments to remove tartar and debris from the surfaces of your teeth. A professional tooth polish removes surface stains and restores a more vibrant appearance to your smile. 

At your St. Paul dental cleaning, you can expect a full-mouth workup that will cover your teeth from the crown to the gum line. Even if you have no teeth at all, our dental team will still clean and examine your gums, tongue, and soft oral tissues to make sure everything looks healthy. 

We will go over dietary guidelines, best oral hygiene practices, and products that can improve and maintain your oral health.

When you are ready to schedule your teeth cleaning in St. Paul, a friendly member of our dental staff will happily assist you. 

Can you treat gum disease? 

Yes! We want to treat your gum disease as immediately as we can to give you the best chance at saving your teeth.

Without proper oral care, the health of your gums can suffer. If you develop periodontal (gum) disease, our dentists need to see you right away. Gum disease is a severe condition that affects your teeth, gums, and the health of your entire body.

Gum disease is an infection that threatens your smile. You should always be on the lookout for signs of gum disease, which include:

• Swelling or puffy gums
• Bleeding when you floss, brush, or apply pressure 
• Pain 
• Tooth mobility
• Pus around a tooth along the gum line
• Sensitivity
• Bad Breath

ou should never delay your dental cleanings and appointments once you know you have gum disease. 

The consequences of non-treatment can lead to tooth loss and have even been linked to life-threatening illnesses in other parts of the body. 

The inflammation caused by having periodontal disease can affect your overall health and exacerbate certain medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory illnesses. Researchers link periodontal disease in pregnant women to low-birth-weight babies and pre-term birth. 

Even if you have missed numerous dental appointments in the past, our skilled hygiene team can help restore your health through focused dental cleanings that remove bacteria, infection, and tartar that irritates your gums. These thorough, frequent teeth cleanings in St. Paul, MN can mean the difference between losing your teeth and saving them forever. 

Advanced periodontal disease can cause pockets to develop between your teeth and gums, creating a harbor for bacteria. Localized antibiotic treatments combined with periodontal cleaning appointments can assist your body in healing.

If you have periodontal disease, your home-care habits will play an important role in restoring your health. Our hygienists can go over techniques that maximize your oral care and recommend products to assist with effective healing.

We may also recommend more frequent dental cleanings at Highgrove Dental Care until your health gets back on track.

Contact Our St. Paul, MN Dental Office to Schedule a Dental Cleaning

Whether you are on track with your oral hygiene or you have some catching up to do, we will customize your treatment to meet your needs. We understand the importance of dental cleanings in St. Paul, so we’ll do everything we can to schedule your dental appointment as quickly as you need it. 

Contact Highgrove Dental Care at (651) 698-3828 when you’re ready for your next dental visit. We want to help in any way we can, so don’t hesitate to call us with questions or concerns. We look forward to supporting you in a lifetime of good oral health and overall wellness.