Dental Cleanings and Checkups: What Happens and How Often You Need One

Even careful brushing and flossing miss some places, and plaque that stays put hardens into tartar that no toothbrush can remove. A regular cleaning and checkup clears it away and catches small problems while they are still easy to fix.

A Cleaning and a Checkup Are Two Different Things

They usually happen at the same visit. Your hygienist cleans your teeth and checks your gums. Your dentist examines your teeth, reviews any X-rays, and talks you through anything that needs attention.

What Happens at a Routine Visit

1. Your history. We ask about changes in your health, any new medicines, and anything you've noticed in your mouth.
2. Gum check. The hygienist measures the small space between each tooth and the gum, which shows early gum disease before you'd feel it.
3. Removing plaque and tartar from the teeth and just below the gum line, with hand instruments and an ultrasonic scaler.
4. Polishing to remove surface stains and leave the teeth smooth.
5. Flossing, and fluoride if it's recommended for you.
6. The exam. The dentist checks for decay, worn or broken fillings, your bite, and the soft tissues of your mouth, including screening for signs of oral cancer.
7. X-rays when they're due, to see between teeth and below the gum line.
8. Your plan. If everything looks healthy, we'll say so and set your next visit. If not, we'll explain the options.

See dental cleanings & checkups for what's included at Smile Makers of Georgia.

Routine Cleaning, Deep Cleaning and Maintenance

• Routine cleaning — for healthy gums. Plaque and tartar are removed above and just below the gum line.
• Deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) — for gum disease. Tartar is removed from deeper below the gum line and the root surfaces are smoothed so the gums can heal. The area is numbed. See periodontal deep cleanings.
• Periodontal maintenance — more frequent cleanings after gum disease treatment, to keep it from coming back.

How Often Should You Come In?

Many people do well with a cleaning and checkup every six months. Your dentist may recommend more often — sometimes every three or four months — if you:

• Have had gum disease
• Smoke or use tobacco
• Have diabetes, or another condition or medicine that affects your gums or dries your mouth
• Are pregnant, when hormonal changes make gums more prone to inflammation
• Wear braces or other appliances that trap plaque
• Get cavities often

Children usually come every six months, so we can keep an eye on how their teeth are developing. Older adults may benefit from more frequent visits, because medicines often cause dry mouth and receding gums leave roots exposed to decay.

Signs to Come In Sooner

• Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
• Bad breath that doesn't go away
• Swollen, red or tender gums
• New sensitivity or pain
• A tooth that feels loose

Why It Matters Beyond Your Teeth

Research has found links between gum disease and conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Keeping your gums healthy is part of looking after your overall health. It also saves trouble: a small cavity found at a checkup needs a filling, while the same cavity found years later may need a root canal and a crown.

Between Visits

• Brush for two minutes twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
• Clean between your teeth once a day with floss or small interdental brushes — see flossing techniques
• Keep sugary and acidic snacks and drinks to mealtimes
• Drink water through the day
• Don't smoke

Common Questions

Do dental cleanings hurt?

Most people find a routine cleaning comfortable. If your gums are inflamed or your teeth are sensitive you may feel some tenderness, so tell your hygienist, who can take extra care in those areas.

How long does a cleaning and checkup take?

Usually about 45 minutes to an hour. A first visit, with a full exam and X-rays, can take longer.

Will a cleaning whiten my teeth?

It removes surface stains, so teeth often look brighter afterwards, but it doesn't change their natural shade. That is what professional whitening does.

Why do I need X-rays?

They show what an exam can't: decay between teeth and under old fillings, the level of the bone, and problems below the gum line. We take them only as often as your own risk calls for.

It's been years since I saw a dentist. Where do I start?

With a regular appointment. We'll do a full exam, explain what we find without judgment, and work out what needs doing first.

---