Brushing and flossing do an important job, but they only reach so far. Here is what a professional clean adds, and how often it is generally recommended.
Cleaning your teeth at home is the foundation of good oral health, but it is not the whole picture. Brushing and flossing remove soft plaque from the surfaces you can reach, and even a careful routine tends to miss the same few areas month after month. A professional clean reaches what a toothbrush cannot, and just as importantly, it puts a trained clinician in a position to notice a problem while it is still small.
Below is a look at what professional teeth cleaning actually involves, how it differs from what you do at home, and how often it is generally recommended.
A clean carried out by a dentist or oral health therapist does several things at once.
Brushing and flossing do an important job, but they work on soft deposits only. A professional clean addresses hardened deposits, reaches below the gumline, and is tailored to what your mouth actually needs on the day.
The point is not that home care matters less. It is that the two do different jobs, and neither replaces the other.
A clean is part of a preventive routine rather than a one-off event. Tartar begins to build again within weeks, and gum inflammation can develop quietly without pain. Keeping a regular interval means problems are caught while they are still cheap and simple to fix, rather than after a tooth has broken or an abscess has developed. It also gives your dentist a baseline, so a change in your gums or a new area of wear stands out.
Oral health and general health are connected. Associations have been observed between gum disease and conditions including cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and gum disease is known to be harder to control when blood glucose is poorly managed. The relationship is not a simple one-way cause, and a clean should not be presented as a treatment for any medical condition. What can reasonably be said is that keeping your gums healthy is a sensible part of looking after your general health, and that your dentist may recommend a shorter recall interval if you have a condition that makes gum disease more likely.
Most people find the appointment comfortable. If your gums are inflamed or your teeth are sensitive you may feel some discomfort, so tell your clinician — the technique can be adjusted, and local anaesthetic is available if it is needed.
A six-monthly check-up and clean is the usual starting point for adults with healthy gums, and it is the interval most Australian dentists work to. Some people need to come more often. If you have gum disease, a history of frequent decay, a dry mouth, diabetes, or you smoke, a three or four-monthly interval may be recommended. Others with very stable gums may be advised that a longer interval is reasonable. Your dentist will suggest a schedule based on what they see, not on a fixed rule.
A clean is not a whitening treatment, and it will not change the underlying colour of your teeth. What it does do is remove the surface film and staining that has accumulated, which often makes teeth look noticeably brighter and cleaner afterwards. If you want to change the shade of the tooth itself, that is a separate conversation about professional teeth whitening, and a clean and check-up is usually done first so that whitening is applied to a healthy mouth.
Helix Dental is a general dental practice at 2/299 Rio Vista Blvd, Mermaid Waters, offering check-ups, cleans and preventive care for adults and children. Our dentists and oral health therapist will talk you through what they find, show you the areas your routine is missing, and agree a recall interval that fits your mouth rather than a default.
We are open Monday to Wednesday 8:30am to 5:00pm, Thursday until 8:00pm, Friday until 4:00pm and Saturday 8:30am to 2:00pm.
General information only. This page provides general information about dental treatment and is not a substitute for individual clinical advice. Whether any treatment is suitable for you can only be determined by a dentist after an examination. Results and recovery vary from person to person and are not guaranteed.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Good to know
Every six months is the usual starting point for adults with healthy gums. Your dentist may recommend three or four-monthly visits if you have gum disease, a history of frequent decay, a dry mouth, diabetes, or if you smoke.
Plaque is a soft, sticky film of bacteria that forms constantly on the teeth and can be brushed away. If it is left in place it hardens into tartar, or calculus, which is bonded to the tooth and can only be removed with dental instruments.
Most people find the appointment comfortable. If your gums are inflamed or your teeth are sensitive you may feel some discomfort during scaling, so let your clinician know — the technique can be adjusted and local anaesthetic is available if needed.
Many Australian private health funds include preventive dental cover, which commonly contributes towards check-ups, cleans and X-rays. Cover, limits and waiting periods vary between funds and policies, so check with your provider before your appointment.
Book with our Mermaid Waters dentists on 07 5572 8969 or email hello@helixdental.com.au.
Book a Consult