What Is a Dental Cleaning?
A dental cleaning is a professional hygiene visit that removes plaque, tartar and surface buildup from your teeth and gumline. Dental teams call the main step scaling, and the finishing step is polishing.
Plaque is a soft, sticky film of bacteria that forms on your teeth every day. Plaque left in place hardens into tartar, which dental teams also call calculus.
Brushing and flossing cannot remove tartar. A professional cleaning can. Removing it protects your gums, freshens your breath and lowers your risk of cavities and gum disease.
What Does a Dental Cleaning Include?
Plaque and Tartar Removal
Your hygienist removes plaque and tartar from your teeth and around the gumline with professional dental instruments in the step called scaling.
Gumline Cleaning
Buildup collects where your teeth meet your gums, so your hygienist gives this line close attention. Buildup left here irritates the gums and can make them bleed.
Teeth Polishing
Polishing smooths the tooth surface and lifts some of the surface stains left by food and drinks.
Professional Flossing
Flossing cleans between your teeth and shows where plaque is collecting, so you know which spots to focus on at home.
Gum Health Review
Your hygienist looks for tender, bleeding or swollen gums. You hear which areas need more attention at home.
Fluoride Guidance
Fluoride strengthens teeth against cavities. If you need extra protection, your dental team explains whether a fluoride treatment suits you.
Home-Care Advice
We suggest changes to your brushing and flossing routine or your toothpaste, based on what we see at your visit. The aim is less buildup by your next cleaning.
Who Should Book a Dental Cleaning?
Book a dental cleaning even if your teeth feel fine. Plaque and tartar build up slowly between your teeth and along the gumline.
Book a cleaning if you want to:
Book sooner if your gums bleed when you brush or floss. Red or puffy gums and bad breath that will not go away are warning signs too. Our gum health care page explains what they mean.
- ✓Remove plaque and tartar buildup
- ✓Keep your gums healthy
- ✓Freshen your breath
- ✓Remove surface stains
- ✓Lower your risk of cavities
- ✓Clean areas that are hard to reach at home, including around braces
- ✓Get back into dental care after time away
- ✓Book preventive care for your child or your whole family
- ✓Ask how many cleanings a year you need
Dental Cleaning vs Dental Exam
A dental cleaning and a dental exam are two different services. They are commonly booked together.
A dental cleaning removes plaque, tartar and surface buildup from your teeth and gumline.
At a dental exam the dentist checks your teeth and gums, your bite and jaw, your oral tissues and any existing dental work. Our dental exams and checkups page explains what the exam covers. If you are due for both, our team books the right appointment type for you.
How Often Should You Get a Dental Cleaning?
Plan on a dental cleaning every 6 to 12 months. That is the range Mayo Clinic gives for regular cleanings. Many patients book a cleaning about every six months.
You may need cleanings closer together if you have gum disease or heavy tartar buildup. The same goes for a high cavity risk or dry mouth, and for smoking and some medicines.
Your dentist and hygienist set your schedule from your gum health and medical history. It fits your mouth, not a fixed rule.
Can Dental Cleaning Help With Bad Breath?
Yes, when the odour comes from plaque and tartar or from food and bacteria trapped along the gumline.
Bad breath has other causes too. Dry mouth and cavities can cause it. So can gum disease, diet, smoking and some medical conditions. If it continues after your cleaning, your dental team may suggest an exam to find the cause.
Does Dental Cleaning Remove Stains?
A dental cleaning removes some surface stains from food, drinks and daily buildup. It does not change the natural colour of your teeth the way teeth whitening does.
If colour is your main concern, ask our team which option suits you.
Cost and CDCP Information
A routine dental cleaning in Ontario costs roughly $160 to $240 before any coverage. That range comes from general Ontario cost guides published in 2025 and 2026. It is a typical market range, not our fee.
Cleaning time is billed in 15-minute units of scaling. More tartar or gum inflammation means more units. An exam or X-rays at the same visit are separate items.
Your cost depends on your gum health and the amount of buildup. The time needed and your coverage matter too. We explain the expected cost before treatment begins, and that estimate is the number that counts.
Grimsby Lake Dental accepts CDCP and bills the plan directly for eligible cleaning services. Cleaning (scaling) is on the Government of Canada list of CDCP services, and our CDCP page sets out the details.
If you have private insurance or another dental benefit, bring your coverage details to your visit. Our team reviews the estimated cost with you before treatment begins.
Related Services
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a dental cleaning include?+
It includes scaling to remove plaque and tartar, gumline cleaning, teeth polishing and professional flossing. You also get a gum health review and home-care advice, and your team may recommend fluoride.
Does dental cleaning remove tartar?+
Yes. A professional cleaning removes the tartar that brushing and flossing at home cannot remove.
How often should I get a dental cleaning?+
Every 6 to 12 months suits most people, and many patients book every six months. Gum disease or dry mouth can call for cleanings closer together.
Is dental cleaning the same as a dental exam?+
No. A cleaning removes plaque, tartar and buildup. A dental exam checks the health of your teeth, gums, bite and soft tissues.
Can dental cleaning help with bad breath?+
Yes, when plaque and tartar or trapped food and bacteria cause it. If bad breath continues after a cleaning, your team may suggest an exam.
Does dental cleaning whiten teeth?+
No. A cleaning removes some surface stains. It does not whiten teeth the way a teeth whitening treatment does.
Does a teeth cleaning hurt?+
Most routine cleanings are comfortable. Sensitive or inflamed gums and heavy buildup can make some spots feel tender. Tell our team if you feel nervous or uncomfortable.
A toothache or facial swelling needs a different visit. Call us and see our emergency dentistry page.
How much does a dental cleaning cost in Ontario?+
General Ontario cost guides put a routine cleaning at roughly $160 to $240 before coverage. We explain the expected cost before treatment begins, and that is the number that counts.
How do I remove plaque at home?+
Brush for about two minutes at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, and floss daily. That removes soft plaque. Hardened tartar needs a professional cleaning.
Does CDCP cover dental cleaning?+
Cleaning (scaling) is on the list of services the Canadian Dental Care Plan helps pay for. Our CDCP page explains who qualifies and what you pay.
Book a Dental Cleaning in Grimsby
Due for a routine cleaning or overdue for a hygiene visit? Our teeth cleaning services in Grimsby cover every age, from young children to seniors. We are open Monday to Saturday, with Saturday appointments from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.