Dental Cleanings at Serenity Smiles

in Miramar Beach & Destin, FL

At Serenity Smiles, we believe that a clean smile is a healthy smile. Whether it’s your biannual check-up or a more advanced periodontal visit, the right type of dental cleaning plays a critical role in protecting your teeth, gums, and long-term oral health. Serving Miramar Beach, Destin, and the surrounding Emerald Coast communities, we customize each cleaning to meet your specific needs—because no two smiles are exactly alike.

Why Cleanings Aren’t One-Size-Fits-All

Dental cleanings do more than polish your teeth—they remove harmful plaque and tartar, reduce inflammation, and help prevent disease. But not every patient needs the same type of cleaning. At Serenity Smiles, we evaluate your gum and bone health during your dental exam by:

• Measuring gum pocket depths
  
• Checking for signs of bleeding or inflammation
  
• Assessing gum recession and tooth mobility
  
• Reviewing X-rays for signs of bone loss
  

This comprehensive evaluation allows us to recommend the type of cleaning that best supports your oral health.

Types of Dental Cleanings We Offer

Adult Prophylaxis (Regular Cleaning)

This is the standard preventive cleaning for patients with healthy gums and no bone loss.

What it includes:

• Removal of plaque and tartar from above the gumline
  
• Polishing of teeth to remove surface stains and smooth enamel
  
• Review of oral hygiene and homecare habits
  
• Application of fluoride varnish (recommended)
  

Why fluoride?‍

Fluoride varnish helps remineralize weak spots in enamel, decreases sensitivity, and forms a protective barrier against bacteria and acids.

Recommended for:

• Patients without signs of gum disease
  
• Typically performed every 6 months
  

This cleaning is ideal for keeping your smile bright, smooth, and healthy between visits.

Gingivitis Therapy (Scaling in the Presence of Inflammation)

This type of cleaning is for patients with moderate to severe gum inflammation but no bone loss.

What it includes:

• Removal of plaque and tartar above and just below the gumline
  
• Focused cleaning in areas with inflamed, swollen, or bleeding gums
  
• Polishing and enamel smoothing
  
• Fluoride varnish and hygiene guidance
  

This treatment helps reverse gingivitis before it progresses into more serious periodontal disease.

Recommended for:

• Patients with generalized gingivitis
  
• Often followed by a re-evaluation and return to routine cleanings once gum health improves
  

Scaling and Root Planing (Deep Cleaning)

Also known as SRP, this non-surgical deep cleaning treats active periodontal (gum) disease.

What is periodontal disease?

It’s a chronic infection that begins with untreated gingivitis and progresses to damage the bone, gums, and ligaments supporting your teeth—often leading to gum recession, bleeding, bad breath, and even tooth loss.

What SRP includes:

• Scaling: Removing plaque and tartar deep below the gumline
  
• Root planing: Smoothing root surfaces to help gums reattach
  
• Local anesthesia (numbing) for comfort
  
• Irrigation of deep pockets to flush bacteria
  

Recommended for:

• Patients with deep gum pockets (5mm+), bone loss, or bleeding gums
  
• Evidence of periodontal disease on X-rays
  

After SRP, patients will move to periodontal maintenance, not regular cleanings.

Periodontal Maintenance

This type of cleaning is for ongoing management of gum disease following SRP or surgery. It goes beyond a routine cleaning and is critical for preventing reinfection or disease progression.

What it includes:

• Cleaning above and below the gumline
  
• Monitoring gum pocket depths and gum tissue
  
• Localized scaling and polishing as needed
  
• Oral hygiene guidance
  

Recommended for:

• Patients who have completed deep cleaning or gum surgery
  
• Scheduled every 3–4 months, depending on your gum health
  

Why it matters:

Gum disease can’t be cured—only managed. Delaying these visits can allow bacteria to reestablish under the gums, undoing previous treatment and requiring another round of SRP.

Why Matching the Right Cleaning Matters

Choosing the right type of cleaning isn’t just about plaque removal—it’s about:

• Preventing tooth loss and gum damage
  
• Avoiding infection or dental abscesses
  
• Reducing the need for more invasive procedures later
  

If you’ve had fillings, crowns, implants, or cosmetic dental work, regular cleanings are essential to protect your investment and maintain results.

At Serenity Smiles, we tailor every cleaning to your current gum condition and treatment history—so you always receive care that’s effective, efficient, and appropriate.

How Often Should I Have a Cleaning?

Your recommended cleaning schedule depends on your gum health:

• Healthy gums: Every 6 months (routine prophylaxis)
  
• Gingivitis: Therapy and follow-up within a few months
  
• Periodontal disease: Every 3–4 months (maintenance)
  

These intervals are not just arbitrary—they’re clinically proven to reduce inflammation, manage bacterial buildup, and protect long-term gum and bone health.

Your Comfort Comes First

Whether you’re due for a routine cleaning or need help managing gum disease, our team at Serenity Smiles is here to make your experience comfortable, respectful, and effective.

Here’s what you can expect from us:

• Gentle techniques and personalized care
  
• Friendly, judgment-free environment
  
• Thorough explanations of your options
  
• Nitrous oxide available for relaxation, if needed
  

We’re proud to serve families in Miramar Beach, Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, and surrounding communities with care that goes beyond the surface.