DENTAL CLEANING A dental cleaning is a professional cleaning you receive from a dental hygienist. Cleanings should be performed every six months to prevent excessive plaque buildup. Plaque and tartar left untreated can lead to unhealthy gums and tooth decay. A routine dental cleaning should include scaling, polishing, flossing, and x-rays once a year, unless otherwise necessary. Scaling: This is the process of removing plaque and tartar from all tooth surfaces in a variety of methods, depending on the amount of plaque and tartar.