Do You Really Have To Go To The Hygienist?
With the cost of dentistry being at a record high, it’s understandable that patients are looking to cut costs wherever possible. However, visiting the hygienist isn’t something you should be neglecting
What does a hygienist do?
A hygienist is a gum health expert who:
Cleans away plaque and tartar along your gum line using hand scaling equipment and methods like Airflow (we’ll talk about this later on in the blog).
Offers nutritional advice to replace the dietary choices that might be causing the onset of gum disease.
Provides referrals for periodontal treatment (treatment for advanced gum disease). Some hygienists are qualified to carry out specialised gum disease treatment to address symptoms like gum recession and under-the-gum bacteria accumulation.
Do you really have to go to the hygienist?
Attending the hygienist should be a regular part of your efforts to maintain a healthy environment in your mouth, as hygienists and dentists have different roles when it comes to protecting your oral health.
Dentist: can be considered as a GP for your teeth. They cover a broad range of treatments to restore your teeth and gums.
Hygienists: focus on cleaning away harmful bacteria that settle on your gum line.
Even if you’re super thorough with your brushing and flossing routine, you will develop some degree of plaque along your gum line. Plaque forms when the bacteria in your mouth mix with sugary and starchy foods. The bacteria then release acids, which begin to create the plaque that clings stubbornly to your teeth.
How often do you need to visit the hygienist?
A person with healthy gums and low risk factors for gum disease should visit the hygienist 1-2 times a year. However, you may be advised to visit the hygienist more regularly if you:
Are a smoker (smokers have an average of twice the risk of developing gum disease compared to non-smokers).
Have had a history of gum disease in the past.
Have significant plaque or tartar coating your teeth (tartar forms plaque is allowed to harden on your teeth).
Would like to reduce your risk of bad breath (the more plaque you have coating your teeth, the more intense your breath can become).
Can I remove plaque at home myself?
There are plenty of things that can be a DIY effort where your oral health is concerned, but removing plaque isn’t one of them.
Plaque is a tenacious substance (and even more so when it hardens into tartar) that can only safely be removed by a hygienist. It’s not possible to remove plaque with a brush (even your £200+ super-duper brushes aren’t up to the job!)
A hygienist is trained in carefully using hand scalers to access plaque in-between your teeth, and in hard-to-reach parts of your mouth.
Is having plaque and tartar removed uncomfortable?
These days, hygienists use less invasive hand-scaling instruments and techniques to clean away plaque and tartar.
A few private dental practices are home to a state-of-the-art hygiene cleaning method called Airflow. This is especially suited to patients with:
A lot of plaque along their gum line.
Plaque in the hard-to-reach parts of the mouth.
Patients with sensitive teeth.
Airflow is an add-on to your regular hygienist cleaning and can help to reduce your risk of gum disease. As well as keeping your teeth safe, it leaves them feeling smoother and less “furry” (plaque can often feel like it’s drying out your mouth – you’ll notice a tangible difference to the way your teeth feel after a hygiene clean).
Key takeaways
A few things to take into consideration if you’re ever tempted to skip the hygienist include:
The hygienist is just as important as the dentist.
Your hygienist is solely responsible for ridding your mouth of bad bacteria (your dentist does not perform this as a service).
Without hygienist appointments, you greatly increase your chances of developing gum disease, loose teeth, and bad breath.
Look out for our next hygiene-related piece “Avoiding Gum Disease Is Easier Than You Think”, where you can learn some simple steps to prevent (completely avoidable) tooth loss in the future. Remember, tooth loss isn’t a fact of life!
Ask a dentist
If you’ve got any unusual symptoms such as bleeding gums, gum inflammation, or loose teeth, speak to a dentist for free. At Nova Smiles, we can provide fast and free advice to help you make the clinical decisions that make sense for your smile.