The importance of brushing and flossing regularly is taught to the majority of people at a young age. This is the starting point for a healthy mouth. Daily care of your mouth and teeth can help to prevent issues from occurring, such as gum disease and tooth decay. A Dental Hygienist works to offer additional advice for a healthy mouth, gum and teeth whilst also completing preventative procedures to protect your oral hygiene. Here, Holly House Dental, have provided everything you need to know about the role of a Dental Hygienist and why their job is so important.
What is a Dental Hygienist?
The important job of a Dental Hygienist is to look after your smile. They will complete preventative work, such as teeth polishing and scaling, to prevent potential dental concerns. Dental Hygienists have been specially trained to offer advice and guidance to patients, to ensure they are able to care for their mouth, teeth, and gums at home. This advice is valuable and allows patients to maintain a good oral hygiene routine. Your Dental Hygienist will also be able to spot early signs of dental problems and will refer you for treatments if this is the case.
How to maintain good oral hygiene
As well as causing potential dental concerns, poor dental hygiene has also been proven to cause worrying effects outside of the mouth too. This includes heart problems, issues with digestion and even Alzheimer’s disease. A build-up of the bad bacteria in your mouth is able to reach other parts of the body, causing further health concerns. Good oral hygiene is potentially more important than you ever considered before. Below are some top tips for maintaining a good oral hygiene routine at home:
- Daily Brushing and Flossing, brush twice a day
- Clean your tongue
- Avoid or minimise your consumption of foods with staining powers, such as tea, coffee, red wine etc.
- Consider using a mouthwash approved by your Dental Hygienist
- Drink more water
- Eat a healthy diet
- Reduce your sugar consumption
Why Visiting a Dental Hygienist is important
Regular visits to your Dental Hygienist mean your oral hygiene can be reviewed and the health of your mouth can be monitored closely. Those who visit their Dental Hygienist regularly, are much more likely to avoid dental problems like gum disease and tooth decay, as their oral hygiene is regularly examined by an expert. Your teeth can also be polished and scaled, meaning stains and plaque are less likely to build up, allowing you to enjoy the foods and drinks you love.
What you can expect from a visit to a Dental Hygienist
Each dental hygienist works differently, and services may differ between each practice. The following are some of what you can expect from a typical visit to a Dental Hygienist:
- An evaluation of oral hygiene and periodontal health. They will ask you health and lifestyle questions and take a closer look at your teeth and gums to spot any early signs of disease or decay.
- Cancer screening for signs of mouth cancer.
