I Finished my Deep Cleanings! Now What?
I Finished my Deep Cleanings! Now What?
If your dentist has recommended and performed a scaling and root planing procedure—commonly called “deep cleanings”—you might be wondering (now that you are finished) what the next steps are. Are there more procedures to be done? What about your daily routine?
After your deep cleanings, Dr. Lina Yu would like to provide a courtesy check-up called a “periodontal re-evaluation” and teeth polishing. She’ll monitor your gum health following the deep cleanings and check how specific areas are improving since the staff would have been unable to polish your teeth during the deep cleaning procedures. They will do so for you before you leave – that way, any accumulated stains will be removed, and you will have a brighter smile.
Following the re-evaluation appointment, we recommend the following schedule:
3 months after – scheduled dental cleaning
6 months after – dental checkup and preventative x-rays, and a scheduled dental cleaning
9 months after – scheduled dental cleaning
12 months after – dental checkup and preventative x-rays, and a scheduled dental cleaning
The schedule would alternate continuously every three months, as seen above until the dentist sees that your dental health has recovered and can switch to every six-month cleaning with minimal risk. Some patients do switch back to six-month cleanings within a year. However, some patients are at higher risk and more prone to buildup and stay on this cleaning schedule indefinitely. While it may be more troublesome for the patient, it helps prevent further bone loss or other major dental procedures.
Should I switch to a different toothpaste after deep cleanings?
Immediately following a deep cleaning is a great time to reassess and start new healthy habits for your daily oral care routines. From brushing and flossing to mouth rinse, even if you are already doing all these things, it's best to consider whether there are minor improvements you should make.
Most patients don’t need any special toothpaste following their deep cleanings. However, ask your Winter Park dentist if a specific toothpaste for gum health is better. One famous brand is Parodontax, which may be recommended before, during, and after active periodontal treatment.
After your deep cleanings, it is also essential to assess whether your daily routine is as good as it should be:
Are you brushing for 2 minutes, 2-3 times a day? Additionally, are you reaching all surfaces of your mouth and near the gumline? Ask your hygienist and dentist if specific areas accumulate more plaque so you can devote more attention to them daily.
Would switching to an electric or manual toothbrush be better for you? Some patients benefit from the extra cycles provided by an electric toothbrush. Whereas others who have used an electric toothbrush for a while may brush on "autopilot" without correctly positioning the toothbrush to clean all areas – in these situations, we often recommend switching back to a manual toothbrush temporarily so you can feel and be more mindful about each part of your mouth that you are brushing.
Are you using traditional floss? Or alternative methods like floss picks? Our Winter Park dentist generally recommends using conventional floss so that it wraps around the tooth for a better clean. Additional methods like inter-proximal brushes or water flossers are a great addition, but they should be done "in addition to" flossing, not a replacement.
Should you start using or switch to a specific mouth rinse? Following a deep cleaning, you will be prescribed chlorhexidine as an antiseptic rinse. While this is an often recommended step, we do not encourage long-term use – as it will stain your teeth after several weeks. Cleaning can easily remove this staining, but we still recommend other mouth rinses to promote gum health. We are seeing patients have great results with daily use of Listerine’s Gum Therapy mouth rinse.
As you can see, several considerations influence your dental routine after a deep cleaning. However, don't be intimidated. The most important thing is to schedule a visit with your local Winter Park dentist following the deep cleaning.
Patients who have a deep cleaning and ignore routine dental visits afterward need the same procedure done twice. Performing a deep cleaning is an investment of time and money and a significant step in improving oral health. Therefore, we strongly recommend improving your oral care routine and regular visits with your dentist to keep your teeth in their best shape. If you need follow-up care after your deep cleanings – please schedule an appointment!
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