Professional cleanings (dental prophylaxis) are the foundation for preventing gum disease and tooth decay. During a professional cleaning, your child’s dental team will do the following:
- Remove plaque from the teeth. Plaque is a sticky substance that forms in the mouth because of the presence of food, saliva, and bacteria. Plaque sticks to teeth and causes tooth decay and gum disease.
- Remove calculus (tartar). Calculus is plaque that has hardened on the tooth surface and cannot be removed with regular brushing.
- Polish and remove stains from the teeth.