When to clean teeth
Clean teeth twice daily at home and schedule professional cleaning when your gum health and deposit buildup call for it.
The short answer
Clean your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, and have professional cleaning when plaque or calculus cannot be removed at home or your dentist recommends it. The appropriate recall interval depends on gum health, deposits, habits and medical factors.
What is the direct answer?
What does this question mean?
Daily brushing disrupts plaque before it hardens into calculus, while interdental cleaning reaches surfaces a toothbrush misses. A professional appointment uses scaling and polishing to remove deposits that remain attached above or below the gumline.
What can you do next?
Brush all tooth surfaces with a soft brush and clean between teeth with floss or an interdental brush suited to the gaps. Ask for a personalised cleaning schedule if your gums bleed, calculus returns quickly or you have periodontal disease.
When should you seek dental care?
Book care for persistent bleeding, swelling, bad breath, loose teeth or deposits that brushing cannot remove. Seek prompt assessment for pain, pus, facial swelling or a suddenly loose tooth.
What should you ask the dentist?
Ask whether you need a routine scale and polish or periodontal treatment below the gumline. Ask which interdental size fits and when your next review should be based on your gum measurements.
Frequently asked questions
Is professional cleaning needed if I brush well?
It may be, because calculus cannot be brushed away and gum needs vary between people.
Should I stop cleaning if my gums bleed?
Continue gentle plaque removal and arrange an examination if bleeding persists.