Hygiene Appointments -It’s more than just a clean

But a hygiene appointment is about much more than getting your teeth clean.

When I see you, one of the main things I’m checking is the health of your gums and the structures that support your teeth. I’m looking for bleeding, inflammation, areas where plaque and tartar are building up, and any signs of gum disease.

I’ll remove the plaque and hardened tartar (calculus) that you haven't been able to remove at home. Once plaque has hardened into tartar, your toothbrush won't get it off - no matter how enthusiastic you are!

I’m also keeping an eye on the rest of your mouth and the soft tissues, and if I see something that doesn't look quite right, we can get one of our dentists to take a look.

Gum disease can be a bit sneaky. It doesn't necessarily hurt, and sometimes the first thing someone notices is a little bit of blood when they brush or floss. It’s easy to think that's normal, but healthy gums generally shouldn't bleed.

Other signs can include puffy gums, bad breath or a strange taste. Sometimes there aren't many signs at all.

If gum disease progresses, it can start to affect the bone that holds your teeth in place. That's why we would much rather pick it up early and help you get on top of it.

There’s also another side to my job that I think is just as important as the clean itself - helping you with what happens at home.

I often describe it as being a little like having a personal trainer. You can have a great session with me, but I only see you for a small amount of time each year. What you do at home matters.

And everyone's mouth is different. Something that works brilliantly for one person might be completely wrong for another. We can work out which toothbrush, floss, interdental brushes or other tools are going to work best for you, and I can show you where you might be missing without you even realising it.

We also know more and more about the relationship between our oral health and our general health. Gum disease has associations with conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Your mouth isn't separate from the rest of your body, which is another good reason to keep your gums healthy.

So, how often do you need to see me?

It depends.

Six-monthly visits work well for a lot of people, but it’s not a magic number. If you have gum disease, have had problems with your gums in the past, or simply have areas that are difficult to keep clean, I might recommend seeing you more often.

Of course, I still want you to leave with lovely smooth, clean teeth. But the real aim is to keep your gums healthy and help protect your natural teeth for the future.