When life gets busy, it’s easy to push off appointments that don’t feel urgent, including your next teeth cleaning. After all, what could be the harm? While it may not always be noticeable at first, skipping your routine visit can lead to more than just surface-level plaque buildup. Seeing our hygienists and dentists in Fort Smith, Rogers, and Springdale, AR, for preventive dental care is crucial to maintaining a healthy smile and catching potential issues before they become costly or painful.

Here’s what really happens during a teeth cleaning appointment and why getting your teeth cleaned every six months makes a difference for patients of all ages.

Why At-Home Oral Care Isn’t Enough

Brushing and flossing every day is essential, but even the most diligent routines can’t remove every trace of plaque, especially in hard-to-reach spots. Over time, plaque hardens into tartar, which requires specialized tools to eliminate. That’s where a professional dental cleaning comes in.

Dental hygienists, like ours at Parklane Family Dental, are trained to approach plaque and tartar removal with precision. Skipping cleanings allows tartar to accumulate below the gumline, where it can lead to gum disease, bone loss, and even tooth loss. Having your teeth cleaned professionally ensures that areas your toothbrush and floss miss get the attention they need.

What Happens During a Teeth Cleaning?

Every teeth cleaning procedure involves several key steps, each designed to promote oral health and prevent bigger problems. A cleaning isn’t just about aesthetics, it’s a key form of preventive dental treatment that helps you stay ahead of issues that can easily spiral out of control if ignored, like tooth decay and gum disease.

1. Oral Cancer Screening: Before the cleaning begins, one of our hygienists may perform a quick screening for oral cancer. These routine checks can catch signs early, when treatment is most effective.
2. Scaling: Using specialized instruments, we’ll carefully remove plaque and hardened tartar from around the gum line and in between your teeth. A scratching noise is normal while this is being done and the more tartar that exists, the more you’ll hear.
3. Polishing: With tartar gone, we’ll use a high-powered electric brush coated in gritty toothpaste to deep clean and remove anything left behind. The gritty consistency helps to gently scrub your teeth and is safe when used responsibly by a professional. 
4. Flossing: We’ll expertly floss between your teeth and identify potential bleeding spots as we move throughout your mouth. Any plaque or toothpaste left over from the last stage is also removed at this time.

When Is a Deep Dental Cleaning Necessary?

Some patients need more than a standard teeth cleaning. If you’ve been diagnosed with gum disease or show signs of advanced plaque buildup, our local family dentists might recommend a deep dental cleaning, also known as scaling and root planing.

This more intensive procedure goes beneath the gumline to clean the roots of your teeth and help your gums reattach. Left untreated, gum disease can destroy the structures supporting your teeth. Scaling and root planing can halt this damage and give your mouth a chance to heal.

Signs you may need a deep dental cleaning include:

• Bleeding, tender, red, or swollen gums
• Persistent bad breath
• Receding gums
• Loose teeth

Early Detection Saves Time, Money, and Teeth

Routine dental cleanings don’t just keep your teeth clean, they also give our team a chance to monitor your oral health closely. Many serious issues, from small cavities to early gum disease and even oral cancer, can be caught during a teeth cleaning appointment.

When problems are identified early, treatment is usually simpler, less expensive, and more effective. Think of scheduling a teeth cleaning like changing the oil in your car: it keeps everything running smoothly and helps avoid costly repairs down the road.