Even though a person has good oral hygiene, it is still important to go to the dentist, ideally every six months, for a complete dental cleaning. A more frequent cleaning, every three to four months, can be recommended for people who have gum disease.

Steps of a dental cleaning

  • Tartar removal: to dislodge all the tartar (calcified plaque) accumulated on teeth or between the teeth and the gums. This procedure is only done mechanically by a dentist or a hygienist using manual instruments or ultrasonic equipment.
  • Polishing: to soften and clean all the dental plaque accumulated on teeth and restorations (fillings, crowns, etc.). The polishing also allows removing food stains from the teeth

If dental plaque is not removed from the teeth, it becomes tartar. If, in addition, the tartar is not removed regularly, it can cause gum disease and halitosis (bad breath).

A dental cleaning is therefore a necessary supplement to the oral hygiene care done at home, (brushing and flossing).

References

WebMD (www.webmd.com)
Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org)
Ordre des Dentistes du Québec (www.odq.qc.ca)

The information above should be used as a reference only. Any medical decision should not be taken before consulting a health care professional.

The masculine gender may have been more used in the article, but without prejudice, to make reading easier.

Category treatments

Category hygiene