Seven Benefits Of Dental Hygienist Visits

Some people still ‘don’t bother’ to see a hygienist. Here are 7 reasons why you should visit us here in Canterbury.

Like other dental practices in the UK, we have some patients who, while acknowledging the importance of seeing a dentist for a check up every six months, see no benefit in seeing the hygienist. We understand that perhaps some people see this as ‘yet another visit’ and also, in some cases, are perhaps trying to keep expenditure down (though hygienist appointments are very affordable), however, there is a lot to be gained by making and keeping these appointments.

In today’s blog, we are going to discuss how patients of Bradley and Partners Dental and Implant Clinic can really benefit from these appointments and why it is anything but a waste of their time.

Prevention of gum disease

Gum disease is responsible for a similar amount of tooth loss as tooth decay. This surprises a lot of people but is true. This happens when the bacteria that attack the gums work their way to the tooth roots and surrounding bone. They then attack the bone, causing it to degrade. This means it can no longer hold a tooth securely and so the tooth becomes loose and/or falls out.

The key role of our Canterbury dental hygienists is to help prevent this, using a scale and polish procedure. This removes hardened bacteria from the teeth and makes it more difficult for new bacteria to establish itself. It really could mean the difference between keeping and losing your teeth.

Professional cleaning

The ‘scale and polish’ procedure is, in effect, a professional teeth cleaning treatment that removes tartar from the teeth surface but also from the gum line. It does this in a non-invasive way but one that is much more effective than your home teeth cleaning regime. Whilst essential, the home cleaning will not remove all bacteria and some will remain. The scale and polish will do this more comprehensively and leave your teeth and gums in a much healthier condition.

Education

A dental hygienist does not just carry out a professional clean but also plays an educational role. Through examining your teeth and gums, and through asking you questions about your lifestyle, they are often able to make suggestions on how you can improve your oral health. This might revolve around major things such as quitting smoking, or even recommendations on changing your toothbrush more often so that the bristles are more effective or even suggesting a toothpaste that might be especially useful for you. We find that patients often learn about oral self care quite effectively in this way.

Help with flossing

One key action to take to help avoid tooth decay and gum disease, which often starts between the teeth, is to use dental floss. This has been around a long time but is something that only around 20% of us do. This seems to be because many people find it difficult to do. A bit like riding a bike or even when we first learn to walk, it just takes a little practice. Our hygienists will be able to show you how to do this effectively. Once you have mastered it, which doesn’t usually take long, you will have added an important ‘weapon’ to your oral health arsenal.

Fresher breath/cleaner mouth

Before you go to the hygienist, make a point of running your tongue on your teeth. You will most likely notice that the surface feels a little rough. This is largely due to tartar, a combination of bacteria and minerals from the saliva which has hardened and formed a crust. Do this again when you leave and you will find that your teeth are now much smoother and your mouth will feel a lot fresher and cleaner too. Doing this on a regular six monthly basis will enable you to have a healthier and cleaner mouth with fresher breath too.

Brighter smile

We don’t ‘sell’ our hygienist services as a way to have whiter teeth, but many of our Canterbury patients do find that this is often the outcome. The removal of tartar also means some stain removal from the tooth surface and you are likely to notice an improvement in colour. This will not affect teeth that have become discoloured in other ways and you will need a teeth whitening procedure for that, but as part of a treatment that improves your oral health, it is certainly a nice bonus to have.

Nervous patients

All of our staff are trained to help patients who have dental anxiety have the most stress free visit that we possibly can. This can still be challenging though for someone who is aware that they might need a procedure or that we might find a problem that means that they do. Seeing the hygienist can be a good way to break this cycle. No invasive dentistry is used by them and the appointments can be relaxed and gentle and a good way to get yourself back into the habit of regular professional oral health care.

As you can see, there are a number of benefits of seeing our hygienist, and at £64 at the time of writing (or free as part of Denplan), it is quite affordable and money well spent. We strongly recommend that you add these appointments to your regular healthcare if you don’t already do so. Why not call us now and make your appointment? You can do this by phoning Bradley and Partners Dental & Implant Clinic on 01227 463529.