Your gums act as the foundation to your smile, so keeping them healthy and free from disease is essential to your routine dental care. Gum disease can become a real problem for your oral health if left untreated as it can lead to receding gums and tooth loss as a result. It’s the job of the hygienist to keep track of gum disease and help to keep your mouth bacteria-free.
With gum disease, prevention is always better than cure. Hygienists are trained in assessing, tracking and treating the condition before it has a chance to become a problem. While your daily cleaning at home deals with much of the surface plaque that forms on your teeth, there are areas in your mouth that you may be missing. A hygienist can reach all areas with a thorough clean, removing stubborn tartar and plaque deposits.
Why are hygiene appointments important?
Dental hygiene can have a significant effect, not just on your mouth but on the rest of your body too, as poor gum health and periodontal disease have been linked to a number of diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Another potentially life-saving check carried out by our hygienists is looking for signs of mouth cancer – an increasingly prevalent disease that is so much easier to treat if caught early.
What is gum disease?
Plaque and tartar build-ups on the surfaces of teeth contain bacteria which, when near the gums, causes the tissues to become inflamed. If the bacteria are not cleaned away, the gum tissues can become swollen to the extent they start bleeding when brushing. This stage is known as gingivitis and can be treated at the hygienist’s chair.
If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to a more aggressive stage – periodontitis. The effects of this stage are irreversible, however, a specialist or hygienist can stabilise the condition so there is no further damage.
What do hygiene appointments involve?
Our experienced and friendly dental hygienists will professionally clean your teeth (known as a scale and polish) to remove any build-up of plaque and tartar. As well as providing this essential and refreshing deep clean, we’ll provide you with cleaning techniques to better control your gum health and keep your gums clear of bacteria.
Hygiene appointments can also involve using Airflow, a special cleaning system that uses a jet of air and fine grain to gently polish the surfaces of the teeth. Airflow can remove surface stains and leave your teeth much cleaner and whiter.
How often do I need to see a hygienist?
Most people visit a hygienist every six months, which is a regular enough interval to keep on top of gum health. Some people are more susceptible to gum disease and need to visit more regularly, but you will be advised if this is the case. If you have implants or a bridge, regular visits are advisable to keep your replacement teeth as healthy as possible. Poor gum health can cause implants to fail as it weakens the supporting bone and gums.
It’s also recommended that you visit a hygienist regularly if you have fixed braces, as a hygienist will be able to clean those areas that are hard to reach with a toothbrush.
