Along with regular professional dental checks, we also strongly advise our patients to see the hygienist here at Chalkwell Dental on a regular basis. With regular and efficient brushing and interdental cleaning, you are more likely to keep your teeth and gums healthy. The services of a dental hygienist play an essential role in the prevention of gum disease and maintenance of a healthy mouth and can help you achieve good oral health by tailoring the right preventative strategies for you.

What is gum disease?

Whilst patients are generally aware of the damage that dental decay can do, fewer perhaps are aware that gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in the UK. Early stage gum disease, known as gingivitis, is relatively common and can cause problems such as sore or bleeding gums. It is relatively easy to treat if detected soon enough but if allowed to advance untreated, the problem can become more severe and result in periodontitis. At this stage, not only the gums, but the bone holding the teeth in place can become compromised and may result in loose teeth and even eventual tooth loss.

How can a hygienist help?

To help diagnose and prevent gum disease, our hygienist will examine your mouth and discuss with you, ways in which you can help to keep your gums healthy. This may include advice on diet or lifestyle choices, such as smoking and drinking alcohol which can be very harmful to your gums.

You may also be shown how to clean the areas between your teeth where gum disease and decay problems tend to start and where standard brushing struggles to reach. By using dental floss or inter-dental brushes, you can keep these areas free from ‘bad’ bacteria and help keep your teeth and gums in great condition.

Finally, you will be given a thorough clean in order to remove the tartar (hardened bacteria) from the teeth and gum-line. Often known as a ‘scale and polish’, this treatment is completed by cleaning your teeth with specialised instruments and a high speed brush to remove any remaining deposits and surface staining that may be present.

Will this make my teeth whiter?

Seeing the hygienist at Chalkwell Dental is an excellent way to help prevent gum disease, but also helps to keep your teeth whiter by removing surface staining, as well as leaving your mouth feeling clean and fresh too! More severely stained teeth may benefit from a professional teeth whitening procedure to remove heavy staining or internal tooth discolouration.

To arrange an appointment with the hygienist at our dental practice in Leigh-on-Sea, please call our friendly reception team on 01702 475065.