The Importance of Visiting a Hygienist

A good oral hygiene routine is essential for healthy teeth and gums. Brushing and flossing your teeth daily and attending regular dental checkups are important, but a hygienist can further improve your oral hygiene. At Forestside Dental, our expert hygienists can deep clean your teeth and transform your smile. If you are not sure why a hygienist appointment is necessary, keep reading to discover the many benefits.

What Is a Hygienist?

First things first, what exactly is a dental hygienist? Think of a dental hygienist as the best of the best when it comes to keeping your teeth clean. A dental hygienist is a highly trained professional responsible for improving the condition of your teeth and gums and preventing common dental diseases.

A dentist may recommend a hygienist appointment if your teeth require a deep cleaning. An excess of plaque and tartar buildup will likely require a hygienist appointment, for example. The main role of a hygienist is to improve your oral health before common conditions and diseases are able to cause any pain and damage.

Services Offered By a Hygienist

If you need a filling or require dental implants, the hygienist is not the professional for you. Hygienists offer various procedures, all specifically needed to improve the health of your gums and teeth. A dentist will insert a filling, a hygienist can remove tartar and stop a filling being needed in the first place.

If you have an appointment with the hygienist coming up, here are some possible procedures that may be performed:

Scaling - If you have plaque and tartar below the gum line, a hygienist will use special scaling tools to remove the build up.

Polish - Stains and minor bumps on the tooth surface can be removed by using a specialist polishing tool. The hygienist will carefully smooth the imperfections and transform your smile.

Deep clean - If you want that 'dentist clean' feeling, don't skip your hygienist appointment. The hygienist will clean all areas of your teeth and gums, including those difficult to reach parts.

Expert advice - While a hygienist will not be able to perform procedures such as fillings and root can surgery, they can develop the best oral hygiene routine for your needs. A hygienist will be able to offer expert dental care advice and share any findings they have with your dentist.

Benefits Of Visiting a Hygienist

There is a lot more to a hygienist appointment than just a professional clean. Hygienists can spot the early signs of common dental conditions, including decay, gingivitis and periodontal disease.

If you want to enjoy a bright and healthy smile for years to come, it is important that you visit a hygienist at least once a year. Don't wait for problems to arise, prevention is always the best course of action. Gum infections and damaged teeth can be painful and expensive to repair - protect your teeth now and avoid unnecessary pain and expenses in the future.

Here are the top benefits of visiting the hygienist:

• Whiter teeth
• Fresher breath
• Reduced plaque and tartar build up
• Stain removal
• Improved overall oral health
• Early intervention to prevent common gum & teeth infections/diseases
• A deeper clean than is possible at home
• That 'dentist clean' feeling

Reasons Not To Miss Hygienist Appointments

The number of hygienist appointments needed can vary between patients. Someone with an existing gum or tooth condition will need to visit the hygienist more frequently than someone with clean and healthy teeth. However, the general advice is to make an appointment every six months to keep your teeth in top condition.

If your dentist recommends a hygienist appointment and you don't attend, the following may occur:

• An existing dental issue may become worse
• Plaque and tartar can build up and cause gum disease
• Untreated gum disease can progress into painful periodontal disease
• Avoidable infections may develop
• Your smile will not look as white and healthy as it could
• Early signs of serious dental diseases and conditions may be missed
• Decay can worsen and lead to fillings being needed or tooth loss

As you can see, hygienist appointments need to be an essential part of your dental care routine. The professionals are here to keep your teeth clean and healthy, we want you to love your smile and experience optimum oral health.

Keep Your Teeth Clean & Healthy At Forestside Dental

Forestside Dental is a private practice, based in Dibden Purlieu and offering high standard dental care to residents in the New Forest and Southampton. Our expert hygienists will assess your current oral health and provide a deep clean, giving you a fresher and healthier smile. We recommended visiting our hygienist twice a year, this will keep your teeth and gums in top condition and give us the opportunity to spot the early signs of any dental problems.

Book an appointment to visit our hygienist today. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch by calling 023 8087 9088 or filling in our online contact form.