Hygiene & Gums
Our hygienist’s plays a key part in your dental health, they advise and demonstrate the best way to keep your teeth and gums healthy. The hygienist will monitor and treat gum disease and is also able to remove any cosmetic surface stains.
We have two dental hygienists at Horbury Dental Care, Alex Boyle and Molly Bray, all of whom are experienced and caring.
Both our hygienists work alongside your dentist to provide you with a tailored service.
Air-Flow Polishing
Our hygienists can provide a service called ‘Air Flow’ which is a great way to remove stains from teeth such as coffee, tea, red wine and food stains. This is a great treatment to have if you have an upcoming event such as a wedding or party.
- Air-Flow Polishing is where a controlled stream of air, water and sodium bicarbonate (a mild polishing agent) passes through a mixing nozzle to allow polishing of the enamel of the tooth.
- Air polishing should be differentiated from air abrasion, which uses an aluminum dioxide abrasive to remove tooth structure prior to the placement of restorations.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis means ‘inflammation of the gums’ – this is when the gums around the teeth become very swollen and often bleed when they are brushed. Seeing a hygienist for regular scale and polishes and good home care will hopefully eliminate gingivitis progressing to gum disease.
Hygiene & Gums FAQs
As gingivitis is an inflammatory response caused by bacteria found in plaque, its treatment involves the removal of the bacterial layer which are present at and below the gum-line. It is vital to have your gums checked by your dentist to confirm the presence of any gingivitis and not a more serious cause of bleeding. Once a consultation is completed and when a diagnosis is made, treatment normally consists of professional cleaning and removal of the plaque and tartar (hardened plaque) that has collected. This is often completed by our hygienist / therapists.
Regular visits to your dentist and dental hygienist will help you to maintain your gum health. They may also give you instructions on how best to maintain your teeth to prevent re-occurrence of the problem. If oral hygiene is of a consistent good standard further gingivitis will be prevented.
Periodontal Disease
Long standing gingivitis can progress to periodontal disease. Periodontal disease affects the tissues supporting the teeth, as periodontal disease progresses the bone anchoring the teeth in the jaw is lost, eventually making the affected teeth loose, if not treated the teeth may eventually fall out.
Periodontal FAQs
All gum disease is caused by plaque. Plaque is a film of bacteria which forms on the surface of the teeth every day. To prevent and treat this you need to make sure all plaque is removed from your teeth everyday by brushing and cleaning between teeth with interdental brushes or floss.
Yes, it can be prevented by having excellent plaque removal techniques, including tooth-brushing and cleaning thoroughly and regularly in between the teeth. Having a healthy lifestyle, including not smoking, eating a healthy balanced diet and taking regular exercise, can also help to prevent periodontal disease.
People with diabetes can reduce the risk of getting periodontal disease by maintaining good blood sugar control.
Sometimes, the symptoms of periodontal disease go unnoticed, particularly in people who smoke, and this is why it is very important to visit the dentist regularly for check-ups.
It can be successfully treated especially if caught early, however, periodontal disease cannot be entirely stopped. Management includes improving daily plaque removal techniques and commonly by having an initial intensive course of treatment, in which the teeth are thoroughly cleaned by a dentist and/or dental hygienist. It is important to understand that the treatment of periodontal disease is a partnership between you and the dental team. Achieving and maintaining good plaque removal and attending regular dental appointments are a lifelong commitment.
Treatments will be improved by stopping smoking and having a healthy lifestyle. People who smoke respond less well to treatment than non-smokers.
