Why Dental Hygiene Appointments are so Important

When you visit the dentist in Downham Market do you also book a hygiene appointment at the same time? We certainly encourage you to do this as it’s an easy and very cost-effective way to help maximise your dental health. It will any take approximately an hour to have a full checkup and hygiene appointment which is a small price to pay every six months to keep your teeth and gums in good condition. So what exactly will happen during a hygiene appointment?

What to Expect during Your Hygiene Appointment

Your hygienist will examine your gums and you may notice them gently probing each gum in turn. This is to check the depth of any pockets in between your teeth and gums. Deeper pockets in excess of 3 mm can indicate problems. By recording these measurements, your dental hygienist can keep an eye on your dental health from appointment to appointment. This helps them identify any areas of concern and this knowledge also helps the dentist in Downham Market provide the correct treatment.

The main part of the appointment will concentrate on removing hardened plaque from your teeth. Every day a plaque biofilm builds up over your tooth surfaces, consisting of bacteria and saliva and other debris. Most of this plaque will be brushed or flossed away but any that remains will harden within a day or two into a substance called tartar or calculus. It’s this substance that has to be scraped away as it cannot be removed by regular brushing and its presence increases the risk of you developing gum disease. This process is known as scaling and is carried out using special tools to gently scrape away the calculus causing minimal discomfort to patients. After this part of the procedure is complete, your teeth will be polished using a special paste.

Your Hygienist Is an Invaluable Source of Information

You’ll find your dental hygienist is an invaluable source of information and can advise you on all sorts of things such as bad breath as well as working with you to improve your oral hygiene at home. Once they have completed your scale and polish, they’ll have identified any areas that you might be missing during regular brushing and flossing. They can advise you on the correct way to brush your teeth and can also give you a demonstration on how to floss correctly.

We know some people find flossing tricky to do and if this is the case we can advise you on other tools to use instead, for example into dental brushes that looked like tiny brushes that fit in between your teeth. These can be helpful for anyone with limited dexterity or for anyone who has dental implants or a bridge that requires a little more thorough cleaning.

One thing that not many people are aware of is that you don’t need an appointment with your dentist in Downham Market to book a visit to see one of our friendly hygienists. It’s such an easy way to keep your teeth looking good and this preventative dental care routine can save you money in the longer term.

If you’d like more information or are ready to book an appointment at Downham Market Dental Care, please just give us a call on 01366 382265.