How Dental Hygienists Can Improve Your Mouth Health

This sometimes overlooked service can be of real benefit to our Ashby, Burton and Swadlincote patients

It is widely understood that you should see a dentist every six months or so for a general checkup. This makes sense as not only can we monitor the general health of your mouth but any treatment that is needed can then be carried out at an early stage, usually meaning that less extensive treatment is required. Of course, accidents can happen and you may require an interim emergency appointment, but a regular six monthly check up is an excellent way to help keep your teeth and gums healthy.

There is also another appointment that you should keep every six months, and one that an increasing number of patients of Alexandra Dental Care are doing and that is seeing the oral hygienist. There are a few misconceptions about the role of a hygienist and it can sometimes be thought of as an ‘optional extra’ rather than an important part of your overall health care.

Why see a dental hygienist?

There are many ways that a hygienist can help you have the healthiest mouth that you can. Their role consists of two parts; an educational one and a practical one.

A visit to see the hygienist is quite a relaxed one and some time will be spent discussing your general oral health care. This can include things like how well you brush your teeth, along with suggestions on how to improve this. You may also be encouraged to use floss and we may demonstrate how to do so correctly. It may also include a discussion on your lifestyle choices such as diet, smoking and alcohol consumption. Dental hygienists are not there to ‘moralise’ but the reality is that some choices, such as smoking, can have a terrible impact on your teeth and gums and it is important that the patient understands this so that they can make an informed choice as to whether to continue smoking or make an effort to stop.

The other part of the hygienist role is more practical and largely consists of a treatment known as a ‘scale and polish’. This is used to clean the teeth of tartar, or ‘calculus’, a hardened ‘crust’ that consists of bacteria and minerals. Because it is hard, it can’t be removed through regular brushing and will continue to build if not removed manually. It also forms a rough surface that makes it easier for bacteria and staining products to stick to. This can lead to gum disease as well as causing additional surface staining of the teeth.

What then, does a scale and polish procedure consist of?

The scale and polish procedure

The first thing to say about this procedure is that it is entirely non invasive. You are highly unlikely to need any local anaesthetic for it and you should feel no significant discomfort during it. The first part is the one that some people do find the most unpleasant as a hooked implement is used to ‘scrape’ away the bulk of the tartar build up. As this often builds up between the teeth, you may feel a pulling sensation as the tartar is scraped away. This is relatively mild though and the benefits are significant.

Having removed a large part of the tartar/calculus, a second stage consists of using a special sonic tool which then shatters much of the remaining tartar, allowing it to be removed more easily.

Finally, most people’s favourite part; the professional brushing. Using a very high speed brush, your teeth will be cleaned to remove any remaining tartar. This is also quite effective at removing some surface staining on your teeth so you may well find that your teeth look brighter afterwards (a teeth whitening procedure can make them look even more so).  When you run your tongue along your teeth after this is complete, you should find that the surface is now smooth and your mouth will feel much cleaner and fresher.

By helping to prevent gum disease with this six monthly professional clean, our Ashby, Swadlincote and Burton patients are helping not only to avoid potentially wobbly teeth or even tooth loss, but the many symptoms associated with it including sore and painful gums and very smelly breath indeed. Why not free yourself from these unpleasant symptoms by booking your appointment with the hygienist at Alexandra Dental Care today? You can do so by calling our helpful reception team on 01283 216347.

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