Dental Hygiene

Dental hygiene is the practice of teeth cleaning as done by a professional dental hygienist.

Often referred to as polishing or scaling the teeth, a thorough cleaning of your teeth at regular intervals is a great support to maintaining your overall good dental health.

Your dental hygienist plays an important role in your dental care, especially in teaching brushing and flossing techniques that most effectively remove plaque – the primary cause of gum disease.

Gum Disease

Gum disease is the most common dental ailment to plague us and yet is one of the easiest ailments to avoid. Regular dental care habits and regular visits to your dentist and dental hygienist are all that is necessary to escape suffering from the two forms of gum disease:

• Gingivitis – gum inflammation.
• Periodontal disease – infection, tissue and bone damage from extended gingivitis.

Plaque, a film of bacteria that forms continually on the gum and teeth surfaces, is the culprit that causes gum disease. Plaque itself is not actively attacking your gums or teeth, but over time, it will accumulate and create inflammation which can lead to bleeding and tiny open wounds in your gums which can become infected. Left without treatment or removal through regular brushing and flossing, plaque will cause gum disease that can lead to tooth and bone loss and painful abscesses. Your first sign of gum disease may be tenderness and some light bleeding when you brush your teeth. Please visit your dentist if this happens – you will probably only need a simple cleaning to set you on a solid path to good dental health.

Bad Breath

Bad breath can afflict anyone and is the most common oral health problem known to man. There are multiple causes for bad breath:

• Eating odorous foods, such as garlic and onion.
• Smoking
• Rotting bits of food caught between your teeth.
• Bacteria coating your teeth and gums (gingivitis).
• Nasal and stomach illnesses.

Most bad breath causes can be prevented by regular and thorough brushing and flossing of your teeth, gums, and tongue. If your bad breath persists, contact your dentist to ensure you are not suffering from any gum disease.