Professional Teeth Cleaning
Professional Teeth Cleaning in Farmington Hills, MI – Keep Your Smile Healthy and Bright
At Smile at Life Dentistry, we provide thorough professional teeth cleanings to help you maintain a healthy, beautiful smile. Regular dental cleanings are essential for removing plaque and tartar buildup, preventing gum disease, and keeping your teeth in top condition. Whether it’s been six months or longer since your last cleaning, our gentle and experienced team is here to ensure your teeth stay clean, bright, and healthy.

Why is Professional Teeth Cleaning Important?
Even with excellent at-home brushing and flossing habits, it’s impossible to remove all the plaque and tartar that build up on your teeth over time. Plaque can harden into tartar, which can only be removed by a dental professional. Without regular cleanings, plaque and tartar can lead to gum disease, tooth decay, and other serious oral health issues. A professional cleaning helps prevent these problems, ensuring your teeth and gums stay healthy.
What Happens During a Professional Teeth Cleaning?
A typical professional cleaning at Smile at Life Dentistry involves:
- Oral Examination: Before your cleaning begins, our hygienist will perform an exam to check for any signs of gum disease, cavities, or other oral health issues.
- Plaque and Tartar Removal: We use specialized tools to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth, especially in hard-to-reach areas that regular brushing and flossing might miss. This process, called scaling, helps prevent gum disease and tooth decay.
- Deep Cleaning Along the Gumline: We clean below the gumline to remove any buildup that could lead to gum disease. This ensures that your gums stay healthy and free from infection.
- Polishing: After scaling, we polish your teeth to remove surface stains and leave your smile looking brighter and smoother.
- Fluoride Treatment (Optional): To help strengthen your teeth and prevent cavities, we offer fluoride treatments after your cleaning. This is especially beneficial for patients prone to cavities.
Benefits of Regular Teeth Cleanings
Regular professional teeth cleanings provide a range of benefits for your oral health, including:
- Preventing Gum Disease: Gum disease can develop when plaque and tartar build up along the gumline. Regular cleanings help remove this buildup, preventing infection and inflammation.
- Preventing Cavities: Cleanings help remove plaque and tartar, which are the primary causes of tooth decay and cavities.
- Fresher Breath: Plaque and tartar buildup can lead to bad breath. Regular cleanings keep your breath fresh by eliminating bacteria and food particles.
- Brightening Your Smile: Professional cleanings remove surface stains, giving your teeth a whiter, more polished appearance.
- Early Detection of Issues: During your cleaning, our team can identify early signs of dental problems, such as cavities or gum disease, and recommend appropriate treatments.
How Often Should You Get a Professional Teeth Cleaning?
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends getting a professional teeth cleaning every six months for most people. However, if you have a history of gum disease or other dental issues, we may recommend more frequent cleanings to maintain your oral health. Regular cleanings, combined with good at-home care, are the best way to keep your teeth and gums healthy and to prevent more serious dental problems down the road.
Periodontal (Gum) Disease Therapy
In cases where there is significant plaque and tartar buildup below the gumline or early signs of gum disease, we may recommend Periodontal (Gum) Disease Therapy. This therapy goes deeper than a regular cleaning, removing plaque and tartar from the roots of the teeth and smoothing the tooth’s surface to help the gums reattach. This is an effective treatment for early-stage gum disease, also known as gingivitis, and helps prevent progression to more severe stages.
Maintaining Your Smile Between Cleanings
While regular professional cleanings are essential, good at-home care is equally important. To maintain the results of your cleaning, be sure to:
- Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
- Floss daily to remove plaque between your teeth and along the gumline
- Use an antibacterial mouthwash to reduce plaque and bacteria
- Avoid sugary foods and drinks, which can contribute to plaque buildup
- Schedule regular dental checkups to monitor your oral health
By practicing good oral hygiene and scheduling professional cleanings every six months, you can keep your smile healthy and beautiful for years to come.
FAQs About
Professional Teeth Cleanings
A typical teeth cleaning takes about 30-60 minutes, depending on the amount of plaque and tartar buildup and whether Periodontal (Gum) Disease Therapy is necessary.
Most cleanings are painless, though some patients may experience mild discomfort if there is significant plaque buildup or gum sensitivity. Our team uses gentle techniques to ensure your comfort during the procedure.
For most patients, a cleaning every six months is sufficient to maintain good oral health. If you have gum disease or other dental issues, we may recommend more frequent cleanings.
Professional cleanings can remove surface stains caused by food, drinks, and tobacco, giving your teeth a brighter appearance. However, deeper stains may require additional treatments like teeth whitening.
Periodontal (Gum) Disease Therapy is a more intensive cleaning procedure used to treat gum disease. It involves removing plaque and tartar from below the gumline and smoothing the roots of the teeth to help the gums heal and reattach.
Schedule Your Professional Teeth Cleaning Today!
Keep your smile healthy, bright, and beautiful with regular professional
teeth cleanings at Smile at Life Dentistry. Our gentle and experienced
team is here to help you maintain optimal oral health and prevent dental
issues before they start. Whether you’re due for a routine cleaning or
need Periodontal (Gum) Disease Therapy, we’re here to provide the care you
need.
Call us at 248-553-3553 or text us to
schedule your cleaning appointment today. Let us help you achieve a clean,
healthy smile that you’ll love to show off!