Dental Hygiene

What happens at a dental cleaning?

Your dental hygienist will remove plaque and hardened tartar from your teeth and around your gumline, polish away surface stains, and check how your gums are doing.

But they’re doing more than cleaning your teeth.

Your hygiene visits help us keep tabs on cavities, gum health, changes in your bite, old dental work, and anything else that deserves a closer look. If something has changed since your last appointment, we’d much rather find it now than after it starts hurting.

How often should you get your teeth cleaned?

For many people, every six months is a good rhythm, but there’s no magic calendar that works for every mouth. Some mouths need a little more attention, especially if you’ve had gum disease, tend to build up tartar quickly, or have other oral health concerns.

At both our Tacoma and Lakewood locations, we’ll recommend a teeth cleaning schedule based on your teeth, your gums, and your oral health, rather than automatically giving everyone the same answer.

Why are regular dental cleanings so important?

Dental problems have an annoying habit of being quiet at first. A cavity doesn’t always hurt when it’s small. Early gum disease may show up as a little bleeding when you floss. An older filling can start changing before you feel anything at all.

Routine dental hygiene appointments give us a chance to notice those changes sooner.

Regular professional teeth cleanings can help:

Prevent tooth decay.
Removing plaque and tartar helps reduce the bacteria and buildup associated with cavities.

Protect your gums.
Healthy gums are part of the foundation keeping your teeth in place. Cleaning around the gumline helps prevent the buildup that can contribute to gingivitis and periodontal disease.

Keep an eye on existing dental work.
Fillings, crowns, bridges, implants, and other restorations still need regular attention. We’ll keep an eye on them while we’re keeping everything else clean.

Catch changes early.
When something doesn’t look the way it did six months ago we want to know why, preferably before it becomes painful or more complicated to treat.

Keep your smile feeling fresh.
And yes, there’s the part everybody notices immediately: that incredibly smooth, I just went to the dentist feeling.

 

What's the difference between plaque and tartar?

Plaque is the sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth. Brushing and flossing help remove it every day.

But when plaque isn’t removed, it can harden into tartar, also called dental calculus. Once that happens, your toothbrush can’t simply brush it away. It needs to be removed with professional dental instruments.

That buildup can irritate your gums and contribute to cavities and gum disease, which is one reason regular professional cleanings matter even when you’re doing everything right at home.

Think of brushing and flossing as the everyday work. Professional cleanings take care of what gets left behind.

Dental hygiene and healthy gums go hand in hand

Healthy teeth need healthy gums around them. If your gums bleed when you brush or floss, look red or swollen, have started pulling away from your teeth, or you’re dealing with persistent bad breath, don’t ignore it.

Those can be signs of gingivitis or periodontal disease, commonly called gum disease. Early gum inflammation can often be addressed with improved oral hygiene and professional care. More advanced gum disease may require periodontal treatment or periodontal maintenance beyond a routine dental cleaning.

We’ll check your gum health during your visit and explain what we’re seeing. If you need something more than a standard cleaning, we’ll tell you why.

Dental cleanings for the whole family

Little teeth need preventative care, too.

Regular dental visits can help kids get comfortable with the dentist while giving us an opportunity to monitor their teeth and gums as they grow. We keep visits age-appropriate, positive, and focused on building healthy habits that can follow them into adulthood.

And because Plancich Dental cares for patients through every stage of life, your child doesn’t have to graduate out of our practice when the little teeth are gone.

Explore Pediatric Dentistry

Questions we get a lot about dental hygiene

Whether you’re right on schedule or can’t quite remember your last cleaning, you’re welcome here.

What can I do between dental cleanings?

We get to see your teeth a few times a year. You get them the other 360-something days.

Good dental hygiene at home makes a huge difference, and the basics really are the basics:

• Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
• Clean between your teeth every day with floss or another tool recommended for you
• Pay attention to changes like bleeding gums, sensitivity, pain, or swelling
• Replace your toothbrush or toothbrush head regularly
• Keep up with your recommended dental exams and cleanings

And if you’re wondering whether you’re brushing correctly, which floss you should use, or what on earth you’re supposed to buy from the wall of products in the toothpaste aisle, ask your dental hygienist.

Is a dental cleaning painful?

For most people, routine teeth cleaning shouldn’t be painful.

You may experience some sensitivity if you have significant tartar buildup, inflamed gums, exposed tooth roots, or it’s been a while since your last professional cleaning.

Tell us if something is sensitive or if you’re nervous about your appointment. We’d much rather know so we can work with you than have you white-knuckling the chair trying to be polite.

And if it’s been years since your last cleaning? Still tell us. Still come in!

Do I need X-rays?

Not necessarily. We take X-rays based on your individual situation such as your cavity history, your gum health, and whether anything looks like it warrants a closer look. We’ll always explain when we’re recommending them and why.

Can a dental cleaning remove stains from my teeth?

A professional teeth cleaning can remove some surface stains caused by things like coffee, tea, and certain foods, so your teeth may look a little brighter afterward. But a cleaning isn’t the same as teeth whitening. If you want to change the actual shade of your teeth, ask us about professional teeth whitening options.

What happens if I haven’t had my teeth cleaned in years?

First: you make an appointment. We take it from there.

We’ll evaluate your teeth and gums, see how much plaque and tartar has accumulated, and check for cavities, gum disease, or other changes. Depending on what we find, you may need a routine cleaning or a different type of periodontal cleaning.

However long it’s been, there’s no judgment and no need to “get your teeth in better shape” before coming in.

Do I still need dental cleanings if I brush and floss every day?

Absolutely! Great brushing and flossing go a long way, but they can’t remove everything. Once plaque hardens into tartar, it needs to be removed professionally. Regular dental visits also give us an opportunity to check your gums, teeth, bite, and existing dental work for changes you might not notice at home.

Let's get that clean-teeth feeling back

Whether you’re right on schedule or can’t quite remember your last cleaning, you’re welcome here.

SCHEDULE A CLEANING

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