Professional Teeth Cleanings

Proper dental hygiene is imperative to a healthy mouth. Professional teeth cleaning every six months is an important part of dental hygiene. The purpose of professional dental cleaning is to remove plaque buildup to prevent cavities (dental caries), gingivitis, and periodontal disease. The six-month cleanings are done by a board-certified dental hygienist, who has been extensively trained to clean teeth properly with specialized tools.

Proper dental hygiene includes brushing and flossing every day. Daily cleaning and use of antibacterial mouthwash are extremely important to the health of your teeth, but the six-month cleanings (also called prophylaxis) remove stubborn plaque and tartar from the gum line and between teeth that is not removed with daily brushing.

After the plaque is removed, the teeth will be polished with a gritty toothpaste. This special toothpaste comes in many different flavors (chocolate or bubblegum, maybe!) and scrubs the tooth enamel clean. This type of deep scrubbing is only suggested twice a year, as too much scrubbing can damage enamel.

After scrubbing, the teeth receive a professional flossing and a good rinse to remove any remaining debris from the mouth.

A lot of people say that the scaling process to remove the plaque from their teeth is the worst part of the cleaning process. There will always be some buildup that needs to be scaled off, but the scaling time can be shortened by regular brushing and flossing at home.

Every six months, your old toothbrush should be thrown away (or put with the other household cleaning brushes, you know, for smaller areas). If you are getting the recommended six-month professional cleanings, you will get a new toothbrush, some dental floss, and a small tube of toothpaste (great for packing in your overnight bag, by the way), so you won’t have to buy a new toothbrush twice a year.