Fine-grained powders or powder mixtures can be used to provide for spray cleaning of supragingival tooth surfaces. The abrasion of the tooth surface by the spraying of powder does not exceed 0.15 mm.sup.3 in relation to a tooth surface of 10 mm.sup.2 during a spray period lasting 2 minutes at a pressure of 4 bars and a distance of no more than 2.5 mm between the tooth surface and nozzle of the spray jet.