Why do we need to have regular hygiene cleans?
Having clean teeth is very important to our health and plays a big part in the way we look and feel about ourselves, as well as how others look at us. Regular hygiene cleans are essential to maintain healthy teeth and gums. The majority of our patients visit us for regular hygiene cleans on a 3-6 monthly basis to keep their gums at optimum health.
Some benefits of keeping up regular hygiene cleans;
- Fresher breath
- Reduce the risk of gum disease
- Reduce the chances of dental decay
- Removal of most tooth surface stain
- Reduced risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, respiratory illnesses
- Some people with medical conditions have an impaired immune system, therefore, have a higher risk of developing gum disease
At Mayfield Dental we can tell the difference when a patient is having regular hygiene cleans and we can see an improvement if a patient has started to have them regularly. For example;
- Where their gums used to bleed, this has dramatically reduced and there is a visible difference in their gums
- Where they used to suffer with bad breath, they now feel more confident in talking up close to people
- Where they would not feel happy naturally smiling with their teeth showing, they can now smile with confidence
These are just a few of the positive reasons to have regular hygiene cleans
Tooth cleaning advice
When bacteria is present in your mouth, this can cause bad breath, erosion, decay and serious health issues. Eventually it could cause infection within soft tissue and the bone. This can then result in periodontal disease and losing teeth.
In more extreme cases, it has been known to lead to gum disease, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Brushing and flossing your teeth reduces bacteria and in return reduces risk of bacteria build up.
To keep your mouth healthy, ideally you would avoid all excessive sugar consumption but this is not realistic. Regular check-ups, hygiene cleans, brushing and flossing as well as taking vitamins with calcium and magnesium will all help to keep your teeth and gums healthy for as long as possible.
As easy as it seems in theory, we may not all do what we should to look after our teeth and despite our best intentions of a thorough brush or floss it is not always possible to achieve an adequate clean. Brushing teeth means different things to different people and the quality of teeth brushing can vary dramatically. A quick brush around your teeth does not constitute what is needed!
Professional Teeth Cleaning Tips
Use an electric toothbrush – we recommend using them as they offer a more thorough clean and many have timers attached to make sure you are brushing for an adequate amount of time, you can also let the brush do the work for you!
At night – brush and floss about an hour after food and not just before you go to bed, as you are more likely to brush thoroughly before you are too tired to brush for longer and may skip the flossing.
Floss – at least 3 times a week, this improves your oral health alongside a good brushing routine and is definitely something you should incorporate into your routine.
Why have Air Polish with your hygiene clean?
Air polishing with your hygiene is a gentle technique that uses compressed air mixed with water. While it is a simple technique, it has been proven to be very effective at removing stains from the surface of teeth. As well as removing trapped food debris and plaque build-up from between the teeth.
Despite being so gentle air polishing can remove some of the worst staining from teeth, such as stains caused by drinking coffee, tea and red wine, as well as tobacco stains left by smoking.
Check with your Dentist or Hygienist
Ask your dentist or hygienist and they will able to confirm if air polishing is suitable for you. This is especially important for you if you have sensitive teeth or are receiving dental treatments that could make a standard clean or a deeper scale and polish more difficult.
For example;
If you are wearing a permanent brace to help straighten your teeth, it can be difficult to reach all of your teeth with a toothbrush. Food particles and plaque can build up or get trapped under the wires of your brace. Having regular hygiene cleans and air polish can be a great way to remove any hidden plaque build-up or debris that could be trapped in your brace.
Book your hygiene clean and air polish in with us at Mayfield Dental in South Croydon.
If you are a nervous patient or just want to know more about our hygiene cleans and air polish please call us on 020 8657 1291 or 07891 578648.
