Good oral health is built on two things working together: regular professional cleanings, and the home care you do between them.
Even careful brushing leaves some plaque behind, and over time it hardens into tartar, or calculus, that a toothbrush cannot remove. A hygienist clears it away, smooths the surfaces where bacteria gather, and shows you where your routine is missing.
Hygienists remove the tartar and calculus that build up above and below the gumline. For most people in good health a cleaning every six months keeps things in check. People with poor hygiene or periodontitis may need to come in more often.
Hold the brush at a 45 degree angle to the gums and use small circular and back-and-forth strokes. Clean the outer, inner and chewing surfaces, then the tongue.
Wind the floss around your index fingers, guide it gently between the teeth, and move it up, down and sideways. Curve it under the gumline where the brush cannot reach. This is where most cleanings are won or lost.
Every six months suits most people with good hygiene. The team may recommend a shorter interval if you have gum disease or heavier buildup.
Brushing and flossing manage plaque, but once it hardens into tartar only a professional cleaning can remove it. The two work together.
