Tartar and professional cleaning: how often you need it

Where tartar comes from

Soft bacterial plaque forms on the teeth all the time. If it stays on the tooth surface, minerals in the saliva gradually help it harden — and tartar forms.

Unlike soft plaque, tartar cannot properly be removed with an ordinary brush, floss or a water flosser. It creates a surface that new plaque clings to more easily and helps keep the gums inflamed.

How professional hygiene is done

• Examination — the specialist assesses the state of your teeth and gums and how much deposit there is and where.
• Removing tartar — with ultrasonic and hand instruments.
• Air Flow — removing soft and stained plaque, including from coffee, tea and tobacco.
• Polishing the tooth surfaces.
• Individual advice on cleaning at home and on choosing tools for the spaces between the teeth.

That last step matters especially: professional hygiene removes the deposits that have accumulated, while proper care at home slows down how quickly they come back.

Why teeth may feel sensitive afterwards

After deposits are removed some patients notice temporary sensitivity to cold, heat or touch. This is more likely where the necks and roots of the teeth are exposed or where there is gum disease.

Usually the sensitivity gradually fades. If it is pronounced, gets worse or lasts a long time, tell your dentist or hygienist.

How often professional hygiene is needed

There is no single interval that suits everyone. How often you need professional hygiene depends on the state of your teeth and gums, how quickly plaque and tartar form, how well you clean at home and your individual risk factors.

With healthy gums the intervals can be longer. With periodontal disease, implants, orthodontic appliances, smoking and certain general health conditions, check-ups and professional cleaning may be needed more often.

The right interval — every 3, 6 or 12 months, for instance — is set by the dentist or hygienist individually after an examination.

Prices for hygiene and cleaning →