Dental Hygiene Grantham

Maintaining good oral hygiene will help to ensure you retain your natural teeth for as long as possible.

Whilst your dentist is responsible for keeping your teeth functional and healthy, think of your hygienist as a caretaker for your gums.

How we can help

• Remove plaque from your gum line.
• Reduce your risk of developing gum disease.
• Offer advice on how to brush and floss your teeth more efficiently.
• Help you to develop healthier eating and lifestyle habit that promote good gum health.

Symptoms of gum disease – what to look out for:

• Bleeding gums after brushing and flossing.
• Red or swollen gums.
• Persistent bad breath.
• Gum recession (when your gums pull away from your teeth, making teeth appear longer).
• Loose teeth.
• Changes to the way your teeth bite together.

If you notice any of the symptoms listed above, we encourage you to book to see your hygienist at the earliest opportunity.

FAQs

I have a healthy diet – do I need to see the hygienist?

Even if you have a good diet and you’re a non-smoker, you should still be coming in to see the hygienist. Even the healthiest diets still produce some degree of plaque, which coats your gum line and causes inflammation and swelling – these are the first signs of gum disease.

Having plaque regularly removed by your hygienist will keep unpleasant symptoms at bay and help to prolong the health of your natural teeth.

How often do I need to see the hygienist?

For patients with good oral hygiene habits and a healthy mouth, we recommend attending hygienist visits twice a year. We recommend more regular appointments if you have high-risk factors for gum disease.

What happens if gum disease goes untreated?

Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. As gum disease progresses, it destroys the bone and gum, which causes teeth to become loose. Once loose, teeth will no longer be able to provide the functions you require, like eating and speaking. The good news is that gum disease is treatable. Making sure you attend routine hygienist appointments will help to keep your risk of gum disease low and allow us to act swiftly if we notice the early signs of gum disease.

How to brush