Dental Hygiene

Dental Hygiene

What is Dental Hygiene?

Dental hygiene is critical for keeping your smile looking its best. Proper at-home care using a quality toothbrush and toothpaste as well as flossing are important steps in caring for your teeth. However, even with the best brushing and flossing techniques at home, you should be coming into the office for twice-a-year hygiene visits. These visits involve a complete cleaning, flossing and polishing as well as a gum health check.

Why is Dental Hygiene necessary?

Poor oral hygiene contributes to both tooth decay and gum disease. Because gum disease affects nearly half of all otherwise healthy adults, it is important to prevent it from occurring by taking good care of your teeth. Even if you brush and floss regularly at home, plaque can thicken and harden on certain areas of the teeth. When this occurs, it’s known as tartar or calculus, and it’s nearly impossible to remove safely on your own at home.

What Is Dental Hygiene 1
Why Is Dental Hygiene Necessary

How often should Dental Hygiene visits take place?

You should be coming into the office twice a year for a hygiene visit with the hygienist. The hygienist will work to clear away any hardened plaque (tartar) from the teeth and even perform a gum health check. This will look for signs of either gingivitis or gum disease so that treatment is provided to you in a more effective manner. It’s never too late to take control of your oral health and come in for a hygiene visit.

What can you expect during a Dental Hygiene visit?

The hygiene visit normally begins with routine x-rays taken by either an assistant or hygienist. The hygienist then works to remove any hardened plaque from the teeth using special instruments known as scalers. An ultrasonic scaler may be used to remove heavy buildup and staining on the teeth. The teeth are then carefully flossed and then polished using a pumice-containing paste. The gums are then checked by using a thin probe to measure the pocketing around the teeth. Deep pocketing could signal a problem with gum disease, and we can provide treatment as needed.

If you think you may need a cleaning and want information on dental hygiene, call us today so that we can help to answer any questions you may have.