A dental hygienist is a specially trained oral health professional who is trained in cleaning teeth free of plaque and tartar, eliminating tartar from deep below the gums and letting you know how best to keep the mouth free of tartar in the future. Their core focus is the prevention and treatment of gum disease and the long-term maintenance of a healthy mouth.
At Viva Dental Studio in Hornchurch, we have a trained team of hygienists who look to make sure your mouth and gums are kept clean and healthy. Our hygienists see patients every day who are surprised by just how much a professional dental hygiene appointment can do and how different it is from simply brushing at home.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Why is Dental Hygiene important?
The build-up of plaque and tartar can mean bad things for the gums and essentially lead to tooth loss. The gums and bone are the foundations of the teeth and if these are compromised with plaque and tartar build up then the teeth can become mobile and start moving. Another name for tartar is calculus and these can be used interchangeably.
Left untreated, the build-up of plaque and tartar leads to:
- Bleeding and inflamed gums (one of the earliest signs of gum disease)
- Bad breath caused by the bacteria living in tartar deposits
- Staining on the surface of teeth
- Gum recession where the gum line gradually pulls back, exposing more of the tooth and sometimes the root
- Bone loss around the teeth
- Tooth mobility and eventual tooth loss
Dental hygiene helps free the mouth of bad bacteria in the mouth that causes bleeding gums, bad breath, staining and in some cases difficulty eating.
What is the consequence of bad Dental Hygiene?
Bad dental hygiene doesn’t just mean a less-than-perfect smile. It can have real and lasting consequences for your oral health and your quality of life.
Bad dental hygiene can ultimately result in tooth loss. This is through the loss of the supporting bone and gums around the teeth which in the end can lead to tooth loss. There may be pain and infection (abscess) associated with the loose teeth which make it difficult to eat.
Gaps can form between the teeth with the loss of the gums in between the teeth which looks unsightly and affect confidence in smiling and talking.
The important thing to remember is that most of this is entirely preventable. Regular hygiene appointments combined with a good routine at home can stop gum disease in its tracks before it ever reaches this stage.
What will a hygienist do at your appointment?
At Viva Dental Studio in Hornchurch our hygienists take a thorough and personalised approach to every appointment. They’ll assess and screen your gums for signs of gum disease.
If there are any concerns the hygienist will make recommendations to your brushing and let you know of any extra brushes or mouthwashes which you can use to help remove plaque which collects after eating.
The hygienist will use specialist brushes and instruments to remove plaque and tartar from the hard to reach areas. They will go deep below the gum line to remove the plaque and tartar which will essentially reduce inflammation and bleeding.
They will show you the hard to reach areas in the mouth and will advised you on the best way to eliminate the plaque and tartar in these hard to reach areas.
For more on what to expect, including our advanced Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) treatment, visit our dental hygiene page.
How OFTEN SHOULD YOU BRUSH, AND DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
It is recommended to be brushing twice a day for at least two minutes each time, and use inter dental cleaning aids such as floss and TePe brushes to ensure the brushing is effective.
Your hygienist can show you exactly how to use these tools effectively at your appointment.
Ready to make an appointment with us? Please call 01708446447 or book online.