Oral hygiene

Professional dental hygiene removes the plaque and tartar a toothbrush cannot reach. Everyone needs it every 6 months; smokers and patients with dentures or implants more often. At Laurus Dent plus a hygiene visit costs 80–85 EUR, 40–55 EUR for children, and takes 45–60 minutes. Book: +371 22428688.

When you need a professional cleaning

You do not have to wait for something to hurt. Book a hygiene visit if any of these applies:

• your gums bleed when you brush or eat;
• bad breath that brushing does not fix;
• visible tartar or dark plaque along the gum line;
• teeth stained by coffee, tea or smoking;
• you are planning fillings, crowns, implants or whitening – a cleaning always comes first;
• pregnancy (on your dentist's advice – gum inflammation is more common then);
• it has been 6 months since your last cleaning.

How a hygiene visit works at Laurus Dent plus

A dental hygienist performs the procedure. It takes 45–60 minutes and is usually done without anaesthesia; for sensitive teeth we can apply a numbing gel on request.

1. Examination. The hygienist checks your gums and the amount of plaque and tartar, and agrees the scope with you.
2. Ultrasonic tartar removal. An ultrasonic tip breaks up hard deposits above and below the gum line without damaging enamel.
3. Plaque and stain removal. AIR-FLOW air-powder polishing or polishing paste removes coffee, tea and nicotine stains.
4. Interdental cleaning. Floss and interdental brushes clear the spaces where most cavities start.
5. Polishing and fluoride. A smooth surface stays clean longer; fluoride strengthens enamel and reduces sensitivity.
6. Personal advice. The hygienist shows you which brush, paste and interdental tools suit your teeth and how to use them.

Tartar: why it forms and how it is removed

Tartar (calculus) is hardened plaque. Soft plaque left for 24–48 hours absorbs minerals from saliva and sets hard, fastest on the inside of the lower front teeth and the cheek side of the upper molars, where the salivary glands open. Tartar above the gum is yellow-brown and visible; tartar below the gum is dark and hidden, and it is the one that causes bleeding, inflammation and, over time, bone loss.

Tartar cannot be removed at home, not with baking soda, lemon or "scalers" bought online: brush and paste remove only soft plaque, while acids and sharp tools damage enamel and gums. In the clinic it is removed with ultrasound in 20–40 minutes, painlessly, as part of the 80–85 EUR hygiene visit. To slow it down: brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, floss or use interdental brushes every evening, snack less between meals, and have a cleaning every six months.

Bleeding and inflamed gums

Gums that bleed when you brush are most often a sign of gingivitis, gum inflammation caused by plaque and tartar at the gum line. Signs: red, puffy gums, bleeding, bad breath. Gingivitis is fully reversible: after a professional cleaning and proper brushing at home the bleeding usually stops within 1–2 weeks. Brushing less "so it does not bleed" is the opposite of what is needed.

If the inflammation is long-standing, the gums recede, teeth become loose or gaps open between them, it may be periodontitis, a disease that also affects the bone. The hygienist recognises it at the examination and tells you honestly: we do not perform periodontal surgery and will recommend a periodontist, but regular hygiene every 3–4 months is the foundation of treatment in any case.

Ultrasonic cleaning or AIR-FLOW?

They are not two different procedures but two steps of one. Ultrasound removes hard tartar, which a spray cannot do. AIR-FLOW (a jet of air, water and fine powder) removes soft plaque and coffee, tea and smoking stains, including between teeth and around implants where polishing paste does not reach. The hygienist decides the scope after the examination; both are included in the price.

After the cleaning

Teeth may be more sensitive to hot and cold for 1–2 days; this is normal and passes on its own. Avoid coffee, tea, red wine and smoking for 24 hours so the clean enamel does not pick up stain. If your gums were inflamed, bleeding usually stops within a week once the tartar no longer irritates them.

How much does dental hygiene cost in Riga?

At Laurus Dent plus a professional cleaning costs 80–85 EUR for adults and 40–55 EUR for children. The price includes tartar removal, plaque and stain removal, polishing, fluoride and advice. The upper end applies when there is a lot of tartar or AIR-FLOW is needed on all teeth. Full price list: prices.

Does a dental cleaning hurt?

No. The ultrasonic vibration and water spray feel unusual but not painful. If your teeth are very sensitive or your gums badly inflamed, the hygienist applies a numbing gel – mention it when booking or at the start of the visit.

How often should you have a professional cleaning?

Most people every 6 months. Every 3–4 months is recommended for smokers, people with gum disease, implants or dentures, and anyone who builds tartar quickly. Your hygienist will tell you the right interval after the first visit.

Dental hygiene for children

We recommend a first professional cleaning once the child brushes alone and plaque appears at the gums, usually from age 5–7, then every six months. The visit is gentler and shorter, with polishing paste and fluoride, and the child learns to brush properly. Price 40–55 EUR. More about children's visits, milk-tooth treatment and the first appointment: children's dentistry.

See also: children's dentistry · teeth whitening · all prices.