Airflow teeth cleaning in Bacchus Marsh, for people who find cleans uncomfortable.
Airflow is a gentle way to clean teeth. A controlled spray of warm water, air and a very fine powder lifts plaque, surface stain and biofilm from teeth, between teeth and around braces, aligner attachments and implants. It feels quite different to traditional scaling, and many people find it gentler. Ask for it at your next visit to our Gisborne Road clinic.
Your clean shouldn't be the part you dread.
Every mouth is different, and so is the way people feel about a clean. You're not alone if you put visits off: in the ABS Patient Experience Survey 2024–25, a quarter of people (25%) who needed to see a dental professional delayed or skipped a visit at least once in the previous 12 months. Airflow is worth a conversation if any of these sound like you.
- You tense up during a scale and clean, even when your teeth are healthy.
- Your teeth or gums are sensitive, and metal instruments feel harsher than you'd like.
- You or your teenager wear braces or aligners, and plaque collects around the brackets or attachments.
- You enjoy coffee, tea or red wine and would like surface stain lifted between visits.
- You have a dental implant and want a gentle clean around it.
So what is Airflow?
Airflow is a dental cleaning system that mixes warm water, air and an ultra-fine powder into a gentle, controlled spray. Instead of a metal instrument scraping plaque and stain away, the spray lifts them off. It also reaches places a traditional scaler finds awkward, such as around brackets and aligner attachments, under a bridge and around an implant.
The powder can be matched to the job: a gentler one for gums and implant surfaces, and a slightly stronger one for stubborn stain on enamel. Your dentist or hygienist chooses the setting your teeth need, rather than using one setting for everyone.
Why many people find it gentler.
- Less scraping. The spray lifts plaque and stain away instead of scratching it off, which many people with sensitive teeth or gums find easier.
- Gets into awkward spots. Around brackets, aligner attachments, bridges and implants, where a scaler can struggle to find a good angle.
- Set for your mouth. A softer setting for gums and implants and a firmer one for stubborn stain, chosen by your dentist for you.
Airflow removes surface stain and plaque. It does not change the natural shade of your teeth. If you have heavier tartar, a traditional scale and clean may still be needed as well.
Is Airflow right for your clean?
Airflow suits many people, but not every situation. Here is a straightforward guide.
Worth asking about if...
- Your teeth or gums are sensitive and you dislike the feel of traditional scaling.
- You are wearing braces or aligners at the moment.
- You have a dental implant and want a gentle clean around it.
- You'd like surface stain lifted between whitening treatments.
You may need more if...
- There is a lot of tartar. A traditional scale and clean usually comes first.
- You want your teeth to be a lighter shade. That is a whitening question, not a cleaning one.
- It has been a long time since your last check-up. We will examine your teeth and gums before choosing how to clean.
Where we use Airflow in your care.
What happens at an Airflow appointment.
A check of your teeth and gums
Your dentist looks at your teeth and gums first, then decides on Airflow, a traditional scale or a mix of both. That check matters: around 3 in 10 Australian adults (29%) had gingivitis in 2017–18, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (report updated August 2026).
If your gums need treatment below the gumline, deep cleaning explains when a deeper clean is recommended.
Choosing the setting
A gentler powder for gums and implants, or a firmer one for stubborn surface stain, matched to your teeth.
The clean
The warm spray of water, air and powder is guided over and between your teeth and around any braces, attachments or implants.
Rinse and review
We look at the result with you and agree when your next check-up should be.
A clean set up for your mouth.
Chosen for you
We pick the powder and pressure to suit your teeth and gums, rather than running the same routine for every patient.
Useful with braces, aligners & implants
Airflow helps with the fiddly areas that come with orthodontic treatment and implants, which is where many people notice the difference.
Clear about its limits
If you still need a traditional scale, we'll say so. Airflow is one option among several, not a replacement for everything.
Airflow questions, answered.
Wondering if Airflow suits you?
Mention it when you book your next check-up and clean, or ask our Bacchus Marsh team directly. We're happy to talk it through.
Book a consultation (03) 8001 7008Bacchus Marsh Clinic
Information on this page is general in nature. Suitability differs between individuals. Your dentist checks your teeth and gums first and explains what is realistic for you before you decide.
Major health funds
Let's find a clean that suits you.
Sensitive teeth, braces, an implant, or simply wanting a gentler clean: one conversation with our Bacchus Marsh team is enough to plan the right approach.