You brush your teeth daily, yet tartar can still develop. You might notice your gums bleeding during brushing or that your teeth feel rough. A professional teeth cleaning can help.
But what exactly is professional teeth cleaning, what happens during the treatment, and how often is it necessary?
At We Smile Tandartsen in Leiden, our dental hygienists help you keep your teeth and gums healthy. In this article, we explain what you can expect.
Why is professional teeth cleaning important?
Dental plaque is constantly forming in your mouth: a soft layer of bacteria that collects on teeth and molars.
By brushing well and cleaning between your teeth daily, you remove a large part of this plaque. However, if plaque remains, it can harden into tartar.
You cannot brush away tartar yourself. This requires a professional teeth cleaning.
When plaque builds up, it can lead to:
- Gingivitis: a superficial inflammation of the gums.
- Periodontitis: an inflammation where the supporting tissue and jawbone are also affected.
- Bad breath: caused by bacteria and inflammation in the mouth.
- Staining: visible discoloration caused by, for example, coffee, tea, or smoking.
Teeth cleaning helps remove plaque and tartar and can contribute to preventing or treating gum problems.
Would you like to know more about inflamed gums? Read our article on periodontitis and how to recognize it.
What happens during a professional teeth cleaning?
A professional teeth cleaning consists of several components. The steps required depend on the amount of tartar and the health of your gums.
Gum check
The dental hygienist assesses your gums and checks where plaque and tartar are present.
If there are indications of gum problems, the spaces between your teeth and gums are measured if necessary. These spaces are called pockets.
This allows us to determine which cleaning is suitable for you.
Removal of tartar
Tartar is removed using special hand instruments or an ultrasonic device.
Ultrasonic cleaning uses vibrations and water to loosen tartar.
When tartar is present below the gum line, a more extensive treatment may be required.
Removal of stains
During the treatment, superficial stains from coffee, tea, or smoking can also be removed.
This can make your teeth look cleaner and sometimes lighter, without changing the natural tooth color.
Polishing and oral hygiene advice
If necessary, your teeth are polished to remove any remaining stains.
In addition, you will receive personal advice on brushing and cleaning between your teeth with, for example, interdental brushes or floss.
Good daily oral care is at least as important as the professional treatment.
Is professional teeth cleaning painful?
A professional teeth cleaning is usually well-tolerated. How the treatment feels varies per person.
With healthy gums, you often only feel some vibrations or pressure.
When your gums are inflamed, your tooth necks are exposed, or there is a lot of tartar below the gum line, the treatment can be more sensitive.
Do you have sensitive teeth or are you afraid of the dentist? Please mention this beforehand.
We take your comfort into account and can discuss local anesthesia if necessary.
How often should you have your teeth cleaned?
Not everyone needs a professional teeth cleaning with the same frequency.
For some people, one treatment per year is sufficient. Others benefit from a cleaning every three to six months.
The recommended frequency depends, among other things, on:
- How quickly you form tartar
- The health of your gums
- Your daily oral hygiene
- Any previous periodontitis
- Personal risk factors, such as smoking
Cleaning more often is not automatically better. The point is that the treatment matches what your teeth need.
During your periodic check-up, we can assess whether an appointment with the dental hygienist is advisable.
What is the difference between teeth cleaning and teeth whitening?
Teeth cleaning and whitening treatments have different goals.
Teeth cleaning focuses on removing plaque, tartar, and superficial discolorations. The main goal is to improve and maintain your oral health.
Teeth whitening is a cosmetic treatment where the natural color of your teeth is made lighter using a bleaching gel.
After a professional cleaning, your teeth may look cleaner and fresher, but they are not actually whitened.
Want to know how professional whitening works? Read more about teeth whitening in Leiden.
How much does a professional teeth cleaning cost?
The costs depend on the required treatment time and the procedures performed.
With a limited amount of tartar, less treatment time is often needed than when there are extensive gum problems.
Dental hygiene treatments in the Netherlands are generally calculated according to the current NZa rates.
For adults, reimbursement depends on supplementary dental insurance. For children up to 18 years old, necessary oral care is usually covered by basic insurance.
At We Smile Tandartsen, we discuss beforehand which treatment is necessary and what you can approximately expect in terms of costs.
Teeth cleaning at We Smile Tandartsen in Leiden
Would you like to have tartar removed or do you notice that your gums bleed regularly?
At We Smile Tandartsen, we don’t just look at cleaning your teeth, but also at the cause of any gum problems.
Our dental hygienist provides personal advice and helps you take good care of your teeth at home as well.
Would you like to know more about the possibilities? View our page about the dental hygienist in Leiden.
Are you not yet a patient at our practice? Then you can first schedule an intake, so we can assess your oral health and determine the correct treatment time.
Make an appointment at We Smile Tandartsen and work with us towards healthy gums and a clean mouth.
A healthy mouth starts with good daily care and professional guidance when necessary.