"When was your last cleaning?" If your honest answer is "I can't remember," you're in good company — and this guide is for you. Here's what dentists actually recommend, who needs to come more often, what a cleaning costs in Metro Manila, and the difference between a routine cleaning, a deep scaling and Airflow.
How often should you get your teeth cleaned?
For most people, every six months. A routine checkup with cleaning and polish twice a year keeps gums healthy and catches small problems — early cavities, a cracked filling, the first signs of gum inflammation — while they're still small and inexpensive to fix. Six months is the interval at which tartar typically builds up enough to matter, and it's the rhythm most Philippine HMO plans are built around too.
Who needs cleaning more often than every six months?
Patients with gum disease often benefit from a 3–4 month periodontal schedule after deep cleaning (scaling and root planing), because the pockets around the teeth re-fill with bacteria faster. Heavy coffee or tea drinkers, smokers and patients with braces may also need more frequent visits to manage stains and plaque around brackets. Pregnant patients are more prone to gum inflammation and often do well with a mid-pregnancy cleaning. If you have diabetes, keeping gums healthy helps blood sugar control, so a shorter interval is worth discussing.
What does a dental cleaning cost in Metro Manila?
At Modern Smiles, oral prophylaxis is priced by how much buildup there is: mild ₱1,500 · moderate ₱2,000 · severe ₱2,500 · deep scaling ₱3,000. For heavy stains and stubborn biofilm, Airflow (Guided Biofilm Therapy) starts at ₱5,000. A dental consultation with an associate dentist is ₱1,500. If you plan to come twice a year, our Smile Savers membership (₱3,500 a year) includes two exams, two cleanings and two small fillings. Guide prices last reviewed October 2026.
What's the difference between a routine cleaning and deep scaling?
A routine cleaning (prophylaxis) removes plaque and tartar above and just below the gumline and polishes the teeth. It takes about 30–60 minutes and is comfortable for most people. Deep scaling and root planing is for gums that have already pulled away from the teeth, forming pockets where tartar collects on the roots. It cleans below the gumline, is usually done with local anaesthesia, sometimes over two visits, and is a treatment for gum disease rather than maintenance. Your dentist will measure your gum pockets at the checkup and tell you which one you need.
What is Airflow cleaning and who is it for?
Airflow uses a fine jet of warm water, air and a gentle powder to lift biofilm and stains from teeth, gums, braces and implants without scraping. It's noticeably more comfortable for patients with sensitive teeth, far better at removing coffee, tea and tobacco stains, and the safest way to clean around implants and orthodontic brackets. It isn't a substitute for deep scaling when there's hard tartar below the gums, which is why we assess first and often combine the two.
What happens during a cleaning?
Your dentist removes tartar and plaque that brushing can't reach, polishes away surface stains, checks your gums for bleeding or pockets, and screens your teeth for anything that needs attention. You'll get an honest read on your home care and, if needed, a written plan with prices for anything else. It typically takes 30–60 minutes, and no — it shouldn't be painful. If it has hurt in the past, tell us; sensitivity is manageable.
Does cleaning damage enamel or make teeth loose?
No. Removing tartar doesn't thin the enamel, and teeth that feel loose or "gappy" after a cleaning were being held by the tartar itself — a sign the gums need attention, not that the cleaning caused harm. Any sensitivity after a cleaning settles within a few days.
Haven't been in years? No judgment.
A large share of adult patients haven't seen a dentist in a long time. A good clinic won't lecture you — they'll simply map out a plan of cleanings, fillings and preventive care that fits your schedule and budget. Read what to expect at your first visit back.
Common questions
Does my HMO cover cleaning?
Usually yes — one cleaning a year is the most common dental benefit on Philippine HMO cards. We're accredited with Maxicare, Cocolife, PhilCare, Filipino Doctors and Health Partners at Shine Residences and Rockwell Sheridan; see our HMO page.
Can children have a cleaning?
Yes. Children benefit from the same six-month rhythm, with gentler techniques and fluoride where appropriate.
Cleaning or whitening — which do I need?
Cleaning removes surface stains and tartar; whitening lightens the shade of the enamel itself. Many patients are surprised how much brighter their teeth look after a cleaning alone, so we suggest starting there.
See everyday dental care services or book a checkup — open 6 days a week, Sundays included.
Written by Dr. Karla Domingo-Cuison, Head Dentist · Last reviewed October 2026. Prices are Modern Smiles' published guide fees and are confirmed after clinical evaluation.