Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. As such, essential polishing is now the preferred approach by most dentists and the polishing paste is chosen to specifically suit the individual patient’s needs. Polishing the teeth is deemed to be an integral aspect of preventative dentistry and patients enjoy the post-dentist feel of clean, smooth, fresh teeth. As prophylaxis paste can cause incidental damage while removing the dental stains, they should be chosen carefully. Those with a larger particle size, that is, coarse or medium, are very effective in extrinsic stain removal, but they can also cause the most abrasion and damage to the tooth surface. In fact, excessive abrasion scratches the enamel, resulting in a less polished appearance and ultimately, contributing to an increased rate of exogenous stain reformation and bacterial plaque retention.[ 4] In contrast, prophylaxis paste with a smaller particle size, such as those found in fine paste, will increase tooth surface cleanliness, luster and smoothness, making the surface more resistant to subsequent stain, plaque and calculus formation.[ 4] Some professionals consider polishing with fine prophylaxis paste to be less effective as they have to apply more pressure and invest more time to remove the same stains than when using coarse prophylaxis pastes. Regular visits to the dentist can help prevent dental erosion. Dentists can also spot cavities or tooth decay early, making treatment easier and cheaper. The most commonly used abrasives in polishing pastes are flour of pumice and calcium carbonate. Other abrasive particles used in commercial prophylaxis polishing pastes include aluminum oxide (alumina), silicon carbide, aluminum silicate, silicon dioxide, carbide compounds, garnet, feldspar, zirconium silicate, zirconium oxide, boron, and calcium carbonate. Others include the emery, silica, and perlite.

The factors that contribute to the overall efficiency of stain removal from the tooth surfaces include: Warranties: Many pastes might claim to be easy to rinse and non-splatter, but you won’t truly know until you’ve tried it yourself. Look out for what guarantees a brand can offer for peace of mind. Kent Express Recommends:Finding a good prophy paste can make hygiene treatment a more comfortable and rewarding experience for dentists and patients alike. What is prophy paste used for? Prophy paste traditionally comes in single-use cups or multi-dose tubs or tubes. The paste is applied to a rubber cup attached to a dental handpiece called a prophy angle.

Tooth polishing is a procedure carried out as a part of oral prophylaxis in most dental practices. It is an act of smoothening the tooth surfaces to make it glossy and lustrous. Although the term polishing has been used to describe the professional removal of soft deposits and stains from the tooth surfaces, in reality, this includes both cleaning and polishing.[ 1] During polishing, plaque, biofilm, stains and acquired pellicle are removed. The cup is then rotated at slow speed as the paste is spread over the crown of the tooth to remove surface plaque and stains. The process of polishing has to proceed from coarse abrasion (cleaning) to fine abrasion (polishing), with the use of a series of finer and finer abrasives. Fine grit is used routinely; medium or coarse pastes are only needed in situations of heavy stain. As the polishing process proceeds from coarse to fine abrasion, scratches smaller than 0.5 mcm are produced. These scratches appear smooth and shiny as they are smaller than the wavelength of visible light.[ 1] Even then, the degree of abrasiveness is dependent on clinicians’ technique and tooth surface integrity.[ 13] Wright JT, Crall JJ, Fontana M, et al. Evidence-based clinical practice guideline for the use of pit-and-fissure sealants: a report of the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. J Am Dent Assoc. 2016;147(8):672-682.e12. doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2016.06.001 Undergoing different preventive dentistry procedures is essential in ensuring you develop strong and healthy teeth. They also save you the costs that you may incur from any future treatment. You should treat some of these conditions in their early stages to minimize the chances of becoming worse with time. Prophy paste cleanses and lowers the chances of plaque forming on your teeth. The possibility of a cavity forming on your teeth in the future is very minimal if you use this product. You will develop strong and healthy teeth as a result. Healthy Gums

Having white teeth gives you a beautiful smile and will fill you with more confidence when you interact with people. Simple procedures like regular brushing help in keeping your teeth healthy, as it eradicates all the dirt or food remains from your teeth that may lead to the formation of plaque or that harbour bacteria. Prophy paste also helps in getting rid of tartar from your teeth. It is commonly used during deep cleaning and tooth polishing. Prophy paste is an ideal option for those who want to have white and healthy teeth. There are other teeth whitening options you can try, but they are not as effective as using prophy paste in my opinion. You get to enjoy the extra benefits from its use, like getting rid of bacteria or germs that affect your teeth. Using it also guarantees you the development of healthy gums. The use of prophylaxis paste is also an affordable option to get rid of plaque from your teeth. Other procedures like laser whitening are very costly and are not 100% effective in getting rid of plaque from your teeth. Therefore, you will save a lot of money when you use prophylaxis paste in keeping your teeth healthy. Both patients and dental experts stand to benefit a lot from the use of prophy paste and fluoride varnish. These products will save your dentist time during deep cleaning and patients will get the kind of treatment they need. How about giving prophylaxis paste a try to keep your teeth white and healthy?