Hygiene

The cleaner your teeth, the less likely you are to develop gum disease. Hygienists are fully trained members of the dental team who focus on preventing and treating gum disease by promoting good oral hygiene.

Regularly visiting a hygienist will help you maintain healthy teeth and gums, as well as protecting your overall well-being because poor gum health has been linked to more serious conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes.

What is gum disease?

Plaque and tartar build-ups attract bacteria. The presence of these bacteria cause your gum tissues to become inflamed and, in turn, bleed. This early stage of gum disease is called gingivitis and can be treated through a deep cleaning.

If this is left untreated, it can lead to recession of the gums. This can cause pockets to develop and eventually leads to loosening of the teeth.

How hygiene appointments help against gum disease?

During a hygiene appointment, the health of your gums and teeth will be assessed. This will involve looking for any signs of swelling, inflammation or bleeding. The hygienist may also take measurements where the gum attaches to the tooth and check for signs of oral cancer.

One of the main aspects of the hygienist’s role is to carry out a ‘scale and polish’, a thorough clean of the teeth to remove plaque and tartar build-up. Scaling (removing tartar) also makes it easier to keep teeth clean as there is no longer a rough surface to attract more plaque. This deep clean will be finished off with a polish to leave teeth shiny and smooth.

Hygienists also offer helpful hygiene advice and demonstrate how to keep your teeth clean and plaque-free with toothbrushes, interdental brushes and floss.