Hygiene appointments will help prevent gum disease and dental decay. While your oral care routine at home does most of the work when it comes to removing plaque from your teeth, a professional clean will help remove any build up. Hygienists are trained in cleaning away plaque and tartar deposits, protecting your smile from bacteria.
Why are hygiene appointments important?
Your oral health depends on your gums. We are best placed to look after your gum health, preventing gum disease and removing any bacteria that is already irritating your gums. Gum disease, if left untreated, can cause gums to recede and can be a contributing factor to tooth loss. As gum disease also has links to health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, keeping your gums as healthy as possible will help your overall health as well. The symptoms of gum disease are mild, so it is often overlooked. We carry out a check during the appointment to spot gum disease, putting us in a position to catch it before it can worsen.
What is gum disease?
If plaque build-ups around the gum line aren’t removed, the gum tissues start to get inflamed. Swollen, red gums are the hallmark for the early stage of gum disease, gingivitis. The irritated gums bleed while brushing, making them vulnerable to the bacteria that’s present in the mouth. If gingivitis is left untreated and the tartar deposits left at the gum line, the gums start to recede as a result. This leads to pockets developing between the gum and the tooth, exposing the sensitive and vulnerable tooth root. Once plaque and tartar build up on the root, it’s much harder to remove. This part of gum disease is called periodontitis and isn’t reversible like the earlier stage. It can be managed by a dentist or periodontist through more extensive treatment.
What happens during a hygiene appointment?
The main part of your hygiene appointment involves a routine scale and polish. This deep clean removes stubborn tartar from all the hard to reach areas. This is then followed by a professional polish – which leaves your teeth feeling smoother, cleaner and brighter. As well as a deep clean, we will advise you how to properly care for your teeth and gums. We can show you how to use interdental cleaning tools properly so you can keep up the hard work at home.
