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Tips on a Good Dental Cleaning Appointment

You should have a dental cleaning at the dentist's office twice a year, according to the American Dental Association. Maintaining proper dental health during the interim helps ensure a good dental cleaning visit, but the quality of the exam itself also depends on other factors. Caring for your teeth daily, providing updated health information and describing any discomfort all contribute to a positive and worthwhile dental cleaning appointment.

  1. Notify Dentist of any Health Changes

    • Informing your dentist of recent changes in your health or lifestyle is an important part of having a productive dental visit. Some, but not all, dentists require a form beforehand asking about recent hospitalizations or new medications since your last dental cleaning. It is your responsibility to keep your dentist updated on any health-related changes. Even conditions seemingly unconnected to your oral health, such as a heart murmur or diabetes, can affect which treatments and techniques your dentist uses. When it comes to providing your dentist, or any physician, with information, it's always better to share too much than too little.

    Note Discomfort

    • Not all dental problems are visible to the naked eye. Notify your dentist of any oral discomfort or sensitivity you've experienced recently before he examines your teeth. Detecting complications from nerve or jaw pain, for example, is difficult for a dentist unless you mention the discomfort. Be honest and specific about the pain by noting the frequency, context and severity. Descriptions such as, "Shooting pain down my jawline when I first wake up in the morning," or "Radiating pain after I eat ice cream," provide your dentist with helpful information for the examination.

    Take Care of Teeth

    • Proper oral hygiene is one of the most important ways to ensure a good dental cleaning appointment. Brushing and flossing at least twice a day, using a fluorinated mouthwash and avoiding dye-laden, sugary drinks all contribute to an easy cleaning for the hygienist and a painless dental exam for you. Start with a clean slate by brushing and flossing your teeth right before the appointment. However, don't try compensating for not flossing during the past six months by flossing 20 times the day before, you'll only irritate your gums and make the cleaning appointment more painful.

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