Professional teeth cleaning is one of the most important dental procedures for maintaining a healthy mouth, fresh breath, and long-lasting teeth. Yet many patients still wonder what exactly happens during dental cleaning, whether teeth cleaning hurts, how long teeth cleaning takes, and why dentists insist on getting a cleaning every six months.
If you’ve been searching for a detailed, step-by-step explanation of the teeth cleaning process, this guide is for you. In this in-depth blog, you’ll learn how teeth cleaning works, why it is essential, the full teeth cleaning procedure from start to finish, different types of dental cleaning, benefits, cost, aftercare, and when you really need deep cleaning.
This article is especially helpful for patients in Kolkata looking for safe and effective dental cleaning. At Excella Orthodontics, Dr. Sayali Pradhan and her team provide advanced teeth cleaning, scaling, polishing, and complete oral health evaluation along with teeth braces treatment in Kolkata. This guide will help you understand what to expect during your visit.
Many people assume that brushing and flossing are enough to keep their teeth clean. While daily hygiene is extremely important, it cannot remove the tough tartar (hardened plaque) that sticks tightly to your teeth and below the gumline. This is where professional teeth cleaning becomes essential.
Teeth cleaning, also called dental cleaning or scaling and polishing, is a professional procedure performed by a dentist to remove plaque, tartar, and stains from the teeth. The goal is to prevent gum disease, cavities, bad breath, and long-term dental damage.
Even with perfect brushing:
This is why professional dental cleaning becomes a key part of preventive dentistry.
Before understanding how teeth cleaning works, it’s important to know why you need it. Many people delay dental cleaning because of fear, myths, or lack of awareness.
Patients undergoing teeth braces treatment in Kolkata also benefit from regular teeth cleaning because maintaining oral hygiene is crucial during orthodontic treatment.
Now let’s dive into the complete teeth cleaning procedure from start to finish. Understanding the step-by-step dental cleaning process helps you feel more relaxed and prepared during your appointment.
Your dentist begins by checking the overall health of your teeth and gums.
At Excella Orthodontics Kolkata, Dr. Sayali Pradhan performs a detailed evaluation before starting the procedure. This helps identify whether you need standard cleaning or deep cleaning.
Plaque is soft and sticky, but tartar is hard, rough, and firmly attached. Detecting these deposits helps the dentist decide how thorough the cleaning needs to be.
Once the buildup is assessed, the next step begins.
This is the most important part of professional teeth cleaning.
Ultrasonic scaling uses a device that vibrates at high frequency and sprays cool water to remove:
For most people, teeth cleaning does not hurt. You may feel slight sensitivity or vibration. For sensitive gums, local numbing gel is used.
On average, a standard teeth cleaning takes 25–40 minutes depending on the level of tartar.
After ultrasonic scaling, manual instruments are used to reach tiny areas where deposits may remain.
This ensures the teeth surface is fully smooth and clean.
Polishing is done using a soft rotating brush and special polishing paste.
Many patients love this part because their teeth feel fresh and smooth.
Flossing removes any remaining debris between the teeth. A fluoride rinse may also be recommended.
The dentist checks:
This final evaluation helps plan your next visit or additional treatments.
Not all teeth cleanings are the same. Depending on your oral health, the dentist decides the type of cleaning you need.
This is the regular cleaning recommended every six months.
Best for:
Deep cleaning is done when gum disease or heavy tartar is present.
Deep cleaning can take 1–2 sittings depending on severity.
Used for heavy tartar buildup when the dentist needs to clear surfaces before detailed examination.
Done every 3–4 months for patients with past gum disease or ongoing treatment.
Prevents gum disease by removing tartar and bacteria.
Stops decay by eliminating plaque deposits.
Removes stains caused by tea, coffee, tobacco, and food.
Reduces odor-causing bacteria.
Healthy gums prevent infections that can affect other organs.
Patients seeking clear aligners, braces, or teeth braces treatment in Kolkata must undergo cleaning before starting treatment.
This is one of the most common queries.
At Excella Orthodontics, patient comfort is a top priority, especially for first-timers.
If you have sensitivity, cold water spray during scaling may feel uncomfortable. Solutions include:
Dr. Sayali Pradhan ensures that sensitive patients feel fully comfortable throughout the procedure.
Every 6 months
Cost can vary based on the type of cleaning.
For accurate pricing, clinics like Excella Orthodontics Kolkata provide detailed consultation.
Surface tartar + plaque + mild stains
Recommended every 6 months
Below-gum tartar + gum disease
Done only when required
More extensive and sometimes done in multiple sittings
Fact: Tartar removal exposes already-loose gums; cleaning does not cause loosening.
Fact: Cleaning improves gum support; it does not damage enamel.
Fact: Gaps were already present under tartar; cleaning only reveals them.
If this is your first cleaning:
Excella Orthodontics is known for advanced oral care, modern equipment, and patient-focused orthodontic services.
Excella Orthodontics is also known for teeth braces treatment in Kolkata, clear aligners, and comprehensive smile correction.
Teeth cleaning is one of the simplest, safest, and most effective dental procedures for maintaining long-term oral health. Whether you’re experiencing plaque buildup, yellow teeth, bleeding gums, or simply want a fresh and healthy smile, professional dental cleaning is essential.
By understanding how teeth cleaning works step by step, you can walk into your next appointment with confidence. And if you are in Kolkata, Excella Orthodontics under the care of Dr. Sayali Pradhan ensures a comfortable, thorough, and high-quality teeth cleaning experience for all patients.
Clean teeth today mean a healthier smile and a healthier you tomorrow.
