Review
We check teeth and gums, and probe where necessary. The cleaning is also your periodontal check-up.
Prevention in the south of Tenerife
Dental cleaning in Los Cristianos, to look after your gums
Professional cleaning is the least glamorous treatment in the clinic and the one that prevents the most expensive problems. Here we tell you what it actually does, how often do you need it —that it's not "every 6 months" by decree— and how it differs from a curettage or whitening.
- Gum check included
- Ultrasound + fine instruments
- We serve in Spanish and English
Quick summary
The most important thing before deciding
48–72 hIt takes time for plaque to start hardening into tartar that a toothbrush can no longer remove.
3–24months: the actual interval between cleanings depending on your risk, not a fixed number for everyone
100 %Gingivitis is reversible if treated in time; periodontitis is no longer reversible
0enamel damage: ultrasounds remove tartar, not teeth. It is a common myth
- What it is: professional removal of tartar and plaque that home hygiene cannot reach.
- What it also is: the check-up of your gums. Every cleaning here includes a periodontal look.
- What it is not: A teeth whitening. It removes surface stains, it does not change the colour of the tooth.
- The alarm signal: gums that bleed when you brush. It's not normal, it's a warning.
What is tartar and why your toothbrush can't remove it
Dental plaque is a soft film that forms daily and is removed by brushing. The problem is the clock: in 48 to 72 hours, the plaque that remains begins to mineralize with the calcium from your own saliva. That is already tartar — hard, stuck, and beyond the reach of any toothbrush.
Tartar has two territories: the visible, over the gum (that yellowish edge next to the gum of the lower incisors), and the subgingival, which grows below the gumline, where you can't see it. The second one is the dangerous one: it keeps the gums chronically inflamed.
That inflammation is the gingivitisred, swollen gums that bleed when brushing. With cleaning and hygiene, completely reverse. Ignored, in susceptible individuals it progresses to periodontitis —and once that bone is lost, it never comes back. Professional cleaning is, literally, the border between those two worlds.
What almost no one tells you
Cleaning every 6 months? The evidence says: it's up to you
The "every 6 months" that everyone repeats doesn't come from any study: it's a convenient commercial convention. Serious evidence says otherwise: the British NICE guideline recommends intervals from 3 to 24 months depending on individual risk, and the largest clinical trial on the subject (INTERVAL, 4-year follow-up) found no relevant differences between scheduling every 6 months or according to risk.
Two small words that are worth saying, because honesty goes both ways: those studies were done in patients who attend regularly and without severe periodontitis They don't say that cleaning is extra, they say that the interval should be up to you. And cleaning does clearly reduce tartar; what is being debated is the schedule, not the treatment.
What increases your risk (and shortens your interval)? Smoking, diabetes, history of periodontitis, ongoing orthodontics, implants — around an implant, gum check-ups are simply mandatory, as we explain on the page of implants. What lowers it? Good hygiene, stable gums, clean check-ups.
Signs that your period is coming early, regardless of your usual cycle: bleeding that starts again, persistent bad breath, visible tartar that you can feel with your tongue, or gums that look redder than usual around a tooth.
Our method: after your cleaning we tell you your interval, with the reason why. Some will need it every 4 months; others, once a year. Charging you for two cleanings a year "just because" isn't prevention, it's billing.
Cleaning or curettage: they are not the same, and it is good to know
There is a deliberate confusion about this. The dental cleaning it is the maintenance of a basically healthy mouth: visible tartar and below the gumline, polishing, and go home. The scaling and root planing ("curettage") It's something else: a periodontal treatment that cleans the roots deeply, by quadrants, and with anaesthesia, when periodontitis with pockets already exists.
Why does the difference matter? Because there are clinics that advertise cheap "cleanings" but then, once you’re in the chair, turn them into root planing at a surprise price—and there are also those that perform a superficial cleaning when what was really needed was periodontal treatment. Both are bad for you.
Here's how it works: when it comes to cleaning we measure your gums. If there are any issues, we'll show you the numbers, explain what periodontal treatment is, and give you a written quotation. If there aren't any, you'll leave with your cleaning and your next appointment. No surprises in the dentist's chair.
How we work
How the session works, step by step
Two things to note about this service. First: the session isn’t timed—it includes time to review your brushing technique on your own teeth and, if necessary, specific recommendations for a toothbrush, toothpaste, and mouthwash tailored to your needs. Second: for stubborn stains, we offer AquaCare, an air microabrasion system that removes them while preserving the enamel, without a drill. It is used when indicated, not as a routine procedure.
Ultrasound
The ultrasonic tip removes tartar with vibration and irrigation. It is the part that sounds weird and hurts less than it sounds.
Fine instruments
Any plaque that the ultrasonic scaler cannot reach is removed by hand, piece by piece, especially between the teeth and along the gum line.
Polishing and guidance
Final polishing to leave the surface smooth (the plate doesn't stick as well), personalised hygiene tips, and your interval Until next time.
Typical duration: 30–45 minutes. If you’re sensitive, just say so: we’ll adjust the intensity, use local anaesthesia in specific areas if needed, and that’s it.
Cleaning with implants, orthodontics, or sensitive gums: what changes
The technique adapts to what you have in your mouth. Three frequent situations in this clinic:
With implants
Around an implant, tartar does not cause cavities — it causes peri-implantitis, the primary cause of late implant loss. Maintenance uses instruments that do not scratch the implant surfaces and includes checking the peri-implant gum, measured and recorded. If you have implants, your cleaning interval is part of the treatment, not an optional extra — we cover this in detail on the page implants.
With orthodontics
Braces create more places where plaque can hide, and with aligners Your teeth are covered for 22 hours a day: if plaque gets trapped underneath, it stays there. That’s why, during orthodontic treatment, the intervals between cleanings are shorter, and cleanings are scheduled to coincide with your check-ups—one trip, two benefits.
Sensitive or receding gums
Exposed dental necks and thin gums call for low power, fine tips, and, if necessary, localised anaesthesia. Mention it at the start—adapting the session takes no effort and completely changes the experience. Cleaning doesn't have to be the unpleasant ordeal you remember from twenty years ago.
What you will notice later — and what each thing means
"Larger" teeth or small gaps near the gum. The tooth hasn't fallen out: the tartar that was filling the gap has disappeared, and the gum, once the swelling goes down, will return to its normal position in a few days. That gap was always there—now it's clean.
Cold sensitivity for a few days. Normal where tartar covered tooth necks; it resolves on its own. If it persists for more than a couple of weeks, mention it at your check-up: it has a solution.
Less bleeding when brushing, week by week. It is the sign that the gum is healing. If the bleeding remains the same after two weeks with good hygiene, it is time to look deeper — there may be pockets that need periodontal treatment, and it is better to know now.
The sensation of tongue on smooth enamel. That is free, and it is the best part.
Three myths, three short answers
"Cleaning wears away the enamel"
No. Ultrasound dislodges an adhered deposit about the tooth; they do not touch the enamel. The feeling of "weird teeth" after the cleaning is the absence of tartar that you had gotten used to.
"It makes my teeth feel loose"
Vice versa. When there is a lot of tartar, it acts like a bad cement between teeth with damaged support. Removing it reveals mobility that was already there — caused precisely by not having removed it before.
"Cleanliness whitens"
It removes coffee, tea, and tobacco stains, and the tooth recovers his colour. Changing that colour is another treatment: the whitening. Different objective, different chemistry.
And the sensitivity after the cleaning? It can appear for a few days, especially to cold, where the tartar covered the dental necks. It is temporary; if it persists, it will be treated.
Transparency
Cleaning price: what is included and what you should ask
Dental cleaning
From €60
The fee is for the dental cleaning. If the evaluation shows that you need periodontal treatment, we will explain it to you and provide a separate quotation before starting.
Indicative price. The final quotation depends on the clinical evaluation and is provided in writing before starting treatment.
The "free" or almost-free cleaning is the classic customer acquisition hook: the General Council of Dentists itself has been warning for years about bait offers that end up in surprise quotations while in the dental chair. A serious cleaning includes real clinical time—and what is overly cheap is usually paid for later.
What does a cleaning here always include
- The teeth and gums check-up with probing where appropriate
- Ultrasounds and fine instruments, as much time as your mouth needs
- The polished final
- Your hygiene routine personalised and your interval Recommended
- Upfront fixed price — if anything else is needed (e.g., periodontal treatment), it is quoted separately and in writing, never while in the dental chair
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about dental cleaning
How often do I need to get a cleaning?
Depending on your risk: the reasonable range is 3 to 24 months. Smoking, diabetes, implants, orthodontics, or a history of gum disease shorten the interval. After your cleaning, we will tell you yours, along with the reason why.
Does the cleaning hurt?
The normal sensation is a mild discomfort, more noise than pain. With inflamed gums or sensitive necks it can bother more: the power is adjusted and, in specific points, local anaesthesia can be used. Let us know and it will be adapted.
Does cleaning damage the enamel or loosen the teeth?
No. Remove a deposit stuck on the tooth without touching the enamel. The feeling of looseness after removing a lot of tartar corresponds to mobility that already existed underneath.
My gums bleed when I brush my teeth, is it normal?
It is not normal: it is the typical sign of a gum inflamed by plaque and tartar. In the gingivitis phase, it is completely reversible with cleaning and hygiene. The sooner it is looked at, the simpler the solution.
Will the cleaning whiten my teeth?
It will remove superficial coffee, tea, or tobacco stains and you will recover your natural colour. To lighten that colour, bleaching is necessary, which is another treatment with a different technique.
What is the difference from a curettage?
Cleaning is the maintenance of a mouth without periodontal pockets. Scaling or curettage is an in-depth periodontal treatment, performed by quadrants and with anaesthesia, when periodontitis is already present. If you need it, we will explain it to you using your measurements and provide a written quotation.
I am pregnant, can I get a cleaning?
Pregnancy makes gums more reactive to plaque, so hygiene control is especially useful. Let us know when making an appointment and we will adapt the timing and chair position to your comfort.
I have implants or braces, does anything change?
Yes: you are exactly the profile that benefits most from short intervals. With implants, the peri-implant check-up is included in the maintenance; with aligners or braces, the cleaning is coordinated with your orthodontic check-ups.
Book your appointment
Book your cleaning service in Los Cristianos
Fixed price upfront, gum check included, and your personalised interval when finished. Write to us and we'll call you to schedule an appointment.
- AddressCalle Barranquillo, 2
38650 Los Cristianos, Arona (Santa Cruz de Tenerife) - Phone and WhatsApp+34 654 58 55 53
- Emailinfo@smiletenerife.com
- Opening hoursMonday and Wednesday: 10:00 – 19:00
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 10:00 – 17:00
Saturdays and Sundays: closed