Hygienist

What does a Hygienist do?

Visits to the hygienist are extremely important(as important as visiting the dentist) as they do not ONLY clean and polish your teeth, they also offer advice on oral health issues and dietary advice making it their aim to help you understand the reasons why maintaining your oral health is vital.

The hygienist’s main role is to prevent and treat gum disease. This includes professionally cleaning your teeth by removing plaque and tartar (usually called a ’Scale and Polish’ or a prophylaxis). However perhaps their most important role is to show you the best way to keep your teeth free of plaque. Plaque is a sticky coating that forms constantly on your teeth. The hygienist will demonstrate different techniques on how to brush and floss your teeth more efficiently and may introduce you to other factors that could improve your oral health in general. Without healthy gums and good levels of bone surrounding your teeth, your teeth may become loose and in extreme cases, tooth loss may occur.

Regular professional cleaning to remove plaque and tartar, combined with looking after your teeth and gums properly at home, will keep your mouth healthy. A clean and healthy mouth will improve your appearance, help you keep your teeth and freshen your breath.

The hygienist will work alongside your dentist to give you the care that is tailored to your needs.

Did you know: recent research has proved that there could be systemic links between uncontrolled gum disease, heart disease and even diabetes.