Teeth cleaning, also known as scaling and polishing, is a preventive dental procedure designed to thoroughly clean your teeth and gums. It involves removing plaque (a soft, sticky film of bacteria) and tartar (hardened plaque) that regular brushing and flossing can’t eliminate. This routine treatment not only improves oral hygiene but also contributes to fresher breath, healthier gums, and a polished, brighter smile.
Professional cleanings are a critical part of maintaining long-term dental health and should be performed at least twice a year.
Even with consistent brushing and flossing, plaque and tartar can accumulate over time — especially in hard-to-reach areas. If left untreated, this buildup can lead to cavities, gum inflammation, and even periodontal (gum) disease.
Common signs that you may need a professional cleaning include:
Bleeding gums while brushing or flossing
Persistent bad breath or bad taste in the mouth
Visible tartar deposits or stains on teeth
Red, swollen, or tender gums
A history of gum disease or tooth sensitivity
Regular teeth cleaning helps prevent these issues, preserves your natural teeth, and supports overall oral health.
The cleaning process starts with an initial dental examination to assess your gum health and check for any signs of decay or inflammation. After that, our dental professional will use specialized ultrasonic tools and hand instruments to gently remove plaque and tartar from both above and below the gum line.
Once scaling is complete, a polishing tool and special paste are used to remove surface stains and leave your teeth feeling smooth and refreshed. In some cases, a fluoride treatment may be applied to strengthen enamel and prevent future cavities.
The entire procedure typically takes 30 to 60 minutes and is pain-free for most patients.
Teeth cleaning is a safe and essential dental procedure with minimal side effects. However, some individuals may experience:
Mild gum soreness or bleeding (especially if tartar buildup is extensive)
Temporary tooth sensitivity to hot or cold foods
Slight discomfort during deep cleaning (which can be minimized with local anesthesia if needed)
These effects are usually short-lived and subside within a day or two. Our team takes every measure to ensure your experience is as comfortable and effective as possible.
Scaling and polishing is usually recommended bi-annually. However one may need a higher frequency or lower depending on habits, rate of calculus formation, surface abnormalities if any. Kindly make us a visit to know more about your ideal frequency.
Teeth remain sensitive after the treatment for a couple of hours or a day max. This is because your teeth now I’ll clean enough that they can sense the actual temperature of food, fluids in reality due to the absence of debris. However your body recovered from this in couple of hours.
Your teeth will become shaky only if the bone support is already compromised. You may have a false sense of rigidity in your teeth because of the presence of calculus. However this calculus which also gives you a false sense of rigidity is causing your bone to degenerate further and will lead to the teeth becoming shaky & eventually falling off. So after the treatment little amount of shakiness in your teeth or emptiness as you would feel after treatment, is expected. This will recover in 2 to 3 days. Kindly contact us and ask any doubts that you have regarding this by visiting us .
Teeth cleaning does not mean whitening of teeth. However you would get your natural shade of teeth back which was not visible due to food debris, surface debris making them appear yellow.
Scaling and polishing is considered as least painful of all treatments. However some people have reduced pain threshold wherein we can spray topical anaesthetic on the teeth surface and gums to make the experience comfortable.
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