Airflow Dental Cleaning: Why Airflow Polish is Important for Orthodontic Braces

26 July 2024

Airflow Dental Cleaning: Why Airflow Polish is Important for Orthodontic Braces

Airflow dental cleaning provides a less invasive alternative to a traditional scale and polish for removing plaque and bacteria. This innovative approach to professional teeth cleaning also removes staining caused by the food and drink you consume.

Airflow dental hygiene can benefit everyone, including those with orthodontic braces – the stream of warm, pressurized water used for an airflow polish cleans areas between the braces that can otherwise be difficult to reach.

What Is an Airflow Polish?

An airflow dental polish is akin to a pressure wash teeth clean. A dentist or dental hygienist uses a small handheld device to deliver a steady, pressurised stream of warm water that contains fine particles such as sodium bicarbonate powder.

This removes the need to use less comfortable metal tools that may cause dental anxiety in some patients. Airflow polishing can be completed in 30 minutes, allowing you to continue on with your day immediately after the procedure.

Why Choose Airflow Dental Cleaning

An airflow dental cleaning is a quick way to remove bacteria, plaque and discolouration from your teeth. 

When plaque is not cleared, it hardens over time to form tartar, which is more difficult to remove. Dental issues resulting from plaque such as gum disease and tooth decay can cause health issues beyond the mouth, as oral bacteria and infection can move to other areas of the body.

The stream of water used in an airflow dental clean can reach all areas of the oral cavity. It can clean below the gum line to remove bacteria before it can harm the gum tissue and develop into gum disease.

A confident smile can also make a more confident person. We rely on our smiles when we meet people. A stain-free, brighter smile resulting from airflow dental cleaning can boost self-confidence in social situations.

The Important Benefits of Airflow Dental Cleaning with Orthodontic Braces

Anyone who wears braces will appreciate that it can be difficult to clean between the brackets and wires. The benefit of airflow dental hygiene for braces is that the water spray cleans these previously hard-to-reach areas. This helps remove food particles that otherwise become trapped and provide a feeding ground for bacteria. 

Plaque and bacteria can also stick to braces that are not thoroughly cleaned. Again, the stream of pressurised water used in this cleaning method makes it easier to remove plaque and bacteria from orthodontic braces.

Trapped food particles and a build-up of bacteria and plaque increase the risk of cavities, gum disease and tooth decay. Removing these threats can be harder with braces, which is why an airflow polish can be important for patients with orthodontic braces.

An airflow polish can also be beneficial before having the braces fitted, as it increases the chances of your braces remaining bacteria-free. This reduces the risk of dental issues such as tooth decay and bad breath.

Further Benefits of an Airflow Dental Polish

As well as removing plaque and tooth discolouration, there are several further benefits from an airflow dental polish compared to more traditional teeth cleaning methods such as a scale and polish.

1. Non-Abrasive

Airflow cleaning is less abrasive than other methods of professional teeth cleaning. As well as making it more comfortable, this gentler cleaning method can be used on previous dental restorative work such as dental implants, veneers, crowns and bridges.

2. Reduced Risk of Gum Damage

The fine spray of water can clean areas below the gum line that traditional cleaning treatments find hard to reach. This can help clear bacteria from periodontal pockets around the teeth. The combination of water, fine powder particles and compressed air is gentler on the gums than traditional scraping tools. This reduces the risk of gum damage.

3. Inhibits Bacterial Growth

Having cleaned out pockets of bacteria, the powder particles used for airflow cleaning can be specially formulated to inhibit future bacterial growth to reduce the risk of developing gum disease.

5. Quick Process

An airflow polish requires on average five seconds per tooth. This compares to 30 to 60 seconds per tooth using traditional teeth cleaning tools. Airflow cleaning can be completed in one 30-minute session, without the need for any follow-up visits.

6. Comfortable

A warm, steady stream of water is a more comfortable approach to teeth cleaning. Traditional cleaning procedures like a scale and polish can be uncomfortable and even painful for some people. Airflow polishing offers effective teeth cleaning without the discomfort.

7. Instant Results

A 30-minute airflow dental cleaning can bring instantly noticeable results. Removing stains and tooth discolouration leaves brighter teeth that can remove the need for teeth whitening. This can be an efficient, effective solution to brighten your smile before a specific event.

8. Helps with Sensitivity

The water used for airflow cleaning is warmed before application, which can help make teeth cleaning easier for people who experience tooth sensitivity. By removing the need for traditional scraping tools, you also remove the vibrations that can affect sensitive teeth.

Note: It Does Not Remove Hard Tartar

Although there are many airflow dental hygiene benefits, it should be noted that this teeth cleaning method does not remove hard tartar. However, by removing bacteria and plaque from all areas of the mouth, including the back and front of your teeth, airflow cleaning serves as an effective method for preventing the formation of hard tartar.

For those looking for a comfortable, non-invasive professional teeth clean, airflow dental polishing provides an effective solution. The pressurised fine spray of water and formulated powder particles helps to reach all areas of the mouth, including below the gum line. Airflow polishing is especially useful for those with orthodontic braces who need to clean hard-to-reach areas between the brackets and wires. Efficiently removing trapped food particles and bacteria this way will help to prevent the build-up of plaque that could lead to cavities, gum disease and loose teeth.