Dental Cleaning Appointment Checklist

Dental experts recommend getting between one to four dental cleanings yearly, depending on the condition of your oral health. If you have a dental cleaning appointment, there are essential things you should note and include in your checklist.

Before your dental cleaning

Before your visit, brush and eat

You should keep your teeth clean by brushing twice daily and flossing. Keeping your teeth clean before going will help your dentist detect areas that cannot be accessed by the toothbrush. The dentist will be able to tell you about problematic areas, where food debris is getting trapped and how you can stop the occurrence. Preferably, brush your teeth, go out and grab a meal, then proceed to the dentist’s office.

Write down your questions or concerns

Instead of assuming you will remember all the questions you want to ask the dentist, it is better to jot them inside a notepad or a phone app to remind you. Perhaps you experience sensitivity to hot or cold in a specific area of the mouth, so you should note that down. That way, you will not struggle to remember any question you wanted to ask the dentist while waiting for your appointment.

Try not to whiten your teeth

If you are planning to go for a dental cleaning, you do not need to worry about whitening your teeth. Teeth whitening, either with off-the-counter kits or in-office procedures, can make your teeth sensitive.  Teeth whitening that is done after dental cleaning is the most effective since the teeth are clean of debris and tartar and likely respond better to whitening agents.

Take along your oral appliance

Some patients may be wearing retainers after an orthodontic procedure or mouth guard to stop teeth clenching and grinding. Whatever dental device you use, take it along to your deep cleaning so it can be cleaned, too. Tartar can develop on the appliance similarly as it does on teeth. The dentist may place the device in an ultrasonic cleaning device to prepare it for your departure.

Here is what you should know

Reschedule if you are sick

You should not get a dental cleaning if you are sick. The cleaning procedure entails scraping beneath the gum line to clean tartar. This may inflame the gums and open pathways for bacteria to invade the bloodstream from the mouth. If your immune system is compromised, it would be wise to postpone the cleaning until you have your health back. The bacterial invasion, also called bacteremia, is transient and usually not a cause of worry in healthy people. It is better to visit the dentist’s office when you feel better.

Inform the dentist of your medical history

To reduce the risk of an infection, the dentist may recommend using antibiotics. If you are dealing with any heart disease or chronic issue, inform the dental expert.

If you are currently in need of a dental cleaning or have any questions about how to prepare for your appointment, call our office. We are happy to help in any way we can!

Request an appointment here: or call Campbell Smile at (408) 379-0851 for an appointment in our Campbell office.