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Dental cleaning with Air Flow system
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025

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Every person dreams of a healthy, snow-white smile, like movie stars. But with our fast pace of life, especially in cities, it is very difficult to find time to pay attention to your health. And what picture do we see most often? Men and women who smile little or cover their mouths with their hands when laughing because of embarrassment. Aesthetic dentistry has now come a long way, and after the introduction of innovative devices, oral care has become much easier and faster. Now you do not need to endure long visits to the dentist in order to remove tartar. This problem can be solved in just half an hour and completely painlessly! What are we talking about? In our article, we will tell you about a great way to get rid of "smoker's plaque" and small hardened deposits, namely, cleaning your teeth with the Air Flow system.
Indications for the use of Air Flow teeth cleaning
Incorrect or insufficient oral care leads to the formation of soft plaque, which after a very short period of time hardens, turning into tartar. In addition, the consumption of coloring foods such as tea, coffee, fruit juices leave a dark plaque on the teeth, which cannot be removed with a regular toothbrush, even when using whitening toothpastes. Smokers' teeth darken twice as fast as non-smokers. Therefore, they need professional cleaning of teeth from plaque much more often.
In such situations, dentists recommend using a special method of cleaning teeth with the Air Flow system. What is this method? Air Flow, literally translated from English as "air flow" - this is a fairly strong stream of a mixture of air, water and sodium bicarbonate (ordinary baking soda), supplied through a special thin tip and thus "sweeping away" soft plaque, dark hard plaque and small deposits of tartar. Some dental clinics offer calcium powder as an abrasive substance, which has a more beneficial effect on the surface of the teeth. It is because of its principle of action that the Air Flow teeth cleaning method is also called sandblasting. Naturally, there is no sand in the cleaning mixture. How does the procedure of cleaning teeth with the Air Flow system take place? Before performing the procedure, the dentist examines the patient's oral cavity for gum inflammation, deep caries, damage to the tooth enamel, tartar. If the condition of the oral cavity allows the procedure to be performed, then it begins. There are situations when the thickness of tartar is very large or there is subgingival hard plaque, then before performing cleaning with the Air Flow method, ultrasonic removal of tartar is performed. Very often, dentists offer this option for cleaning teeth before the procedure of chemical whitening of tooth enamel or treatment of carious cavities. After the procedure of cleaning teeth with the Air Flow system, most clinics offer to apply a protective fluoride varnish, which will allow the teeth to "absorb" useful substances and eliminate excessive sensitivity of the enamel. If desired, you can ask to apply a special whitening gel in order to lighten the color of the enamel by another tone.
Benefits of Air Flow Teeth Cleaning
The Air Flow method of teeth cleaning has a huge number of advantages. Firstly, this procedure can be offered by almost all dental clinics and offices. Secondly, it does not require expensive equipment, so the cost of the Air Flow method is quite affordable. Thirdly, the duration of teeth cleaning is from 15 to 40 minutes (depending on the amount and thickness of plaque), which is very convenient. Fourthly, the jet removes even the most difficult dirt in the interdental spaces, where it is almost impossible to clean with anything. Another huge advantage of such cleaning is the whitening of teeth to their own shade. Sometimes patients after cleaning their teeth with the Air Flow method refuse further whitening with aggressive chemical methods, while remaining completely satisfied with the result. The mixture for removing plaque has a bactericidal effect, which prevents the development of oral diseases, including caries. Also, teeth cleaning with the Air Flow method evens out the acid-base balance in the mouth, preventing the formation of hard deposits on the teeth, and helps to eliminate bad breath. And it is practically the only method of professional teeth cleaning available to patients with braces. And it is for them that it is very important to monitor the cleanliness of the oral cavity.
Disadvantages of cleaning teeth with the Air Flow system
Even the most universal method always has its drawbacks. Air Flow teeth cleaning is no exception. Of course, these drawbacks are nothing compared to the visible advantages, but we still want to mention them. Unfortunately, this procedure cannot remove thick and subgingival tartar. Therefore, if this is required, tartar is removed before cleaning using an ultrasonic method. No matter how small the powder is, it is still an abrasive method. During the procedure, the protective layer is removed from the enamel, so you should not neglect the procedure of applying a protective varnish. In rare cases, with certain features of the structure of the tooth enamel, it may crack after the procedure. Some patients note pain and bleeding of the gums after cleaning teeth using the Air Flow method, which is observed for two to three days.
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Contraindications to Air Flow teeth cleaning
Like all other methods of removing dental plaque, the Air Flow method is not recommended for pregnant women, as well as children and adolescents under eighteen years of age (since it is up to this age that the thickness of tooth enamel is formed). The following can be distinguished from categorical contraindications:
- acute inflammatory processes in the oral cavity;
- severe form of diabetes mellitus;
- presence of epileptic and asthmatic attacks;
- viral diseases (AIDS, hepatitis);
- open form of tuberculosis;
- runny nose or difficulty breathing through the nose.
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Cost of Air Flow teeth cleaning procedure
The cost of sandblasting teeth cleaning in Kyiv can range from 250 to 600 UAH. In other cities of Ukraine, the cost is slightly lower - from 150 to 500 UAH. The cost most often includes teeth cleaning using the Air Flow method + coating the surface of the teeth with a fluoride-containing protective varnish. If you want to save money, then very often on special sites you can buy a discount on teeth cleaning up to 90%.
Reviews of Air Flow Teeth Cleaning
In general, teeth cleaning with the Air Flow method leaves only positive emotions. Some patients with sensitive gums note the presence of pain and moderate bleeding of the gums, which disappears within two to three days. If you are faced with gum sensitivity, then to relieve pain and prevent inflammation, it is good to rinse the mouth with chamomile decoction or chlorhexidine solution. Before the teeth cleaning procedure, it is recommended to lubricate the corners of the lips with hygienic lipstick to avoid cracking, and after finishing, it is not recommended to eat for two to three hours. Many patients note the pleasant lemon aroma of the abrasive mixture as “delicious”. More than 90% of patients are satisfied with the result of teeth cleaning with the Air Flow method.