At Lindley Dental we are firm believers in preventive dentistry and dental hygienists play an important role in providing this type of care.
Dental hygienists can help you to look after your mouth in the best way. They can help you prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
We find that our patients who are members of a dental plan see the hygienist more regularly than those who are not. As such they enjoy better dental health.
Viv Weston, one of our four hygienists has put together some of the benefits of regularly seeing her:
1) To Prevent Gum Disease
Gum disease causes bleeding gums, bad breath and loose teeth. It is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults but is largely preventable. Gum disease can be treated and even reversed if it is caught in its initial stages.
Gum disease is caused by bacteria present in the plaque that build up on teeth. Visiting your hygienist regularly can help to prevent and treat gum disease by removing the hard plaque with professional cleaning. They will also teach you techniques at home to maintain a clean mouth and keep your plaque level as loss as possible.
We all start off well after our hygiene visit and have good intentions. At each visit we will re-motivate you, spurring you on to keep up the good habits needed for good plaque control. Attending regularly helps to keep you on track.
2) Prevent Bad Breath and Halitosis
The most common cause of bad breath is poor oral hygiene. If you don’t clean your teeth correctly the food debris and bacteria will collect in your mouth releasing an odour. A thorough dental clean by the hygienist may help individuals with bad breath and again we will show you how to maintain your mouth.
3) Have a Whiter Smile
Some stains build up on your teeth and cannot be removed by brushing alone. Factors that can cause staining are tea, coffee, tobacco, certain foods and red wine! Your hygienist may be able to remove these stains and restore your teeth to their natural whiteness.
4) Mouth Cancer Screening
Your hygienist will routinely screen for oral cancer. Oral cancer caught in the early stages is more likely to be treatable. Risk factors for oral cancer include smoking and alcohol intake.
5) Prevent Other Diseases
Research shows that poor oral health can have a negative effect on the whole body with recent studies showing links between gum disease and heart disease, diabetes and pregnancy complications
6)
Improve confidence and Self Esteem
Overall a clean, healthy mouth can help improve your appearance, confidence and most importantly your health. If your mouth feels clean it makes you feel good. If you feel your teeth are less stained it makes you feel more confident. If your breath feels fresher, it makes you feel more comfortable talking. Knowing that healthy gums can affect your general health also, can make you feel good about yourself.
So, for most people, regular hygiene visits are the gateway to good oral health!
So if your attendance at the dentist can be a bit hit and miss we strongly recommend signing up for a dental plan to ensure you visit more regularly and get better dental health and better general health!
