Everyone knows that it is important to visit the dentist at least once every six months to maintain healthy teeth and gums, but what most people do not realise is that it is equally important to visit our hygienist Richmond on a regular basis to maintain healthy teeth and gums as well. Our hygienist Richmond is here to keep your teeth clean and free of plaque and tartar. Plaque and tartar build up on your teeth as a result of poor dental hygiene. Plaque is a sticky substance that consists of saliva, food particles and bacteria. This then sticks to the surface of the teeth and over 48 hours it can harden to become tartar. Tartar provides an excellent surface for more plaque to attach itself to the surface of the teeth. The bacteria in the plaque then secrete acids and toxins which damage the teeth and gums.
Scale and polish with our hygienist
Our hygienist Richmond will carefully remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and from your gums using a specialist method known as a scale and polish. Scaling removes the deposits of plaque and tartar from the surface of your teeth. Our hygienist will use an ultrasound scraper to remove most of the tartar from the surface of your teeth, followed by specialised hand-held instruments to scrape away any stubborn deposits. The next step involves polishing the teeth to make the surface really smooth. This helps even out minor imperfections and patches of rough texture on the teeth to make it difficult for further plaque to build up on them. Polishing also has a cosmetic effect, removing superficial stains from the surface of your teeth, so that they become white and shiny.
How often should you visit our hygienist?
How often you need to visit our hygienist will depend on your individual dental needs, however it is recommended that you visit at least once every 6 months. Our hygienist will assess your dental hygiene techniques, making sure you are brushing and flossing correctly, bringing to your attention the areas you may be missing. Children should be visiting our dental hygienist every 4 or 6 months, because they are more likely to suffer from tooth decay and gum disease, as their brushing and flossing techniques may not always be sufficient. If you have a history of dental health complications then you should visit the dentist every 4 or 6 months. If you have crowded or crooked teeth then you need to be visiting the dentist and hygienist more often than usual. Other patients who need to visit the hygienist more often than usual are those with a genetic predisposition to gum disease, pregnant women, teenagers and those who are undergoing orthodontic treatment. If you have restorative dental treatments, such as fillings, crowns, bridges and dentures then you should visit our hygienist every 3 to 6 months. This helps keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy, free of cavities, tooth decay and gum disease preventing further complications in the future. Speak to our hygienist today to find out exactly how often you need to visit and learn how to look after your teeth better with individually tailored advice.