Dental cleaning is an important part of oral hygiene and will help you to keep your own teeth into old age. Current statistics show that 19.1% of adults over 65 have lost all their teeth. That’s a category you would rather not be in.
What Is Dental Cleaning?
Dental cleaning will normally be performed by your dentist. A reputable dentist, such as this Alexandria dentist, will have all the training necessary to clean your teeth without damaging your gums.
The dentist will use a special tool to scrape the plaque away from your teeth. It’s important not to try this yourself as you could damage your gum and cause an infection.
In most cases, a regular clean will be enough. However, if the plaque extends below the gum line a deep cleaning will be necessary. This means scraping plaque away above and below the gumline. It is also possible the roots of your teeth will be scraped to ensure they are smooth. This makes it harder for plaque to stick to it.
But, dental cleaning also covers your daily brushing routine, a procedure that should last two minutes and be done twice a day.
This is when you may be surprised to find that you have a bad taste in your mouth after cleaning.
Top Reasons For A Bad Taste
If you’ve just changed your toothpaste you may think that it’s the toothpaste that is responsible for the bad taste. However, this is unlikely to be the case.
It is more likely that the bad taste is a side effect of something else.
In most cases, it is caused if you have brushed your teeth and you have less saliva in your mouth than usual. There are many reasons why saliva could be reduced, including medication.
If you’re taking medication then check the side effects, you’ll probably find bad taste listed.
If this isn’t the issue then you may have an oral health issue, such as a bacterial infection in your gum or a tooth that is decaying.
If this is the cause then you’ll need to see a dentist as soon as possible. They can examine your teeth, find the problem and either perform a deep clean to help remove the infection or fill a cavity.
What To Do While Waiting For The Dentist
In most cases, this scenario won’t warrant an emergency dental appointment. While you’re waiting for your appointment there are several things you can do.
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Get a tongue scraper
A tongue scraper is specially designed to scrap the tongue without hurting it. The aim is to remove food debris and bacteria from your tongue, reducing the likelihood of it reacting to sugar and causing more tooth decay.
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Drink plenty of water
If your bad taste is a result of a lack of saliva then you should drink plenty of water. It’s best to sip regularly throughout the day to keep your mouth moist and reduce the likelihood of any harm.
