Your dental hygienist will start by examining your mouth for signs of cavities or other dental problems at your dental cleaning appointment. Then they will use small, metal tools to scrape plaque and tartar off your teeth. Professional flossing follows this thorough cleaning to remove plaque from between your teeth. Your dental hygienist may finish the cleaning by polishing your teeth and applying a fluoride treatment. Learn more in our article, "What is a Dental Teeth Cleaning"