If you brush and floss your teeth twice a day and attend your dental appointments every six months, you may feel that visiting a hygienist is a waste of time.
Unfortunately, despite being a very useful member of any dental team, few people attend hygienist appointments and as a result, they can often end up having preventable dental issues when they go to their dental check-up.
However, even if you use the best electric toothbrush on the market, use a specialised toothpaste to destroy acid and floss until your teeth sparkle, you are still likely to benefit from a trip to our hygienist.
At Crofts Dental Practice, we are proud of the dental hygiene in Essex that our hygienist offers and recommend a biannual visit to our hygienist alongside regular dental check-ups. Useful for devising a treatment plan and helping keep your mouth disease free, these dental professionals will also keep your teeth whiter and cleaner than your regular dentist ever could by themselves.
So, what are the benefits of visiting our hygienist and improving your dental hygiene in Essex? Read on to find out!
Prevents gum disease
One of the most common problems we see at Crofts Dental Practice due to a lack of dental hygiene in Essex is gum disease, like gingivitis.
Caused by an accumulation of plaque or bacteria attacking the gum, periodontal disease can lead to bleeding, sore and swollen gums and in the worst cases, can actually cause teeth to fall out!
Our hygienist can prevent all of these issues with a simple scale and polish; designed to remove plaque both above and below the gumline, this treatment reduces the likelihood of gum disease occuring by up to 90%!
Health benefits
Oral health is a reliable indication of overall health; if you have issues with your teeth, it is likely that there is a knock on effect somewhere else in the body.
Indeed, excessive levels of plaque in the mouth have been linked to cardiovascular disease, heart disease and even strokes. Similarly, if you have plaque or tartar in your mouth, you are at a higher risk of heart attack too!
Tooth protection
Excess plaque leads to tooth decay too.
Visiting our hygienist will prevent tooth decay from occurring, due to the removal of plaque and the thorough ‘dentist clean’ feel that our team can offer you. Perfect!
Stops bad breath
We’ve all met someone who has bad breath and, while it is commonly linked to gum disease and cavities, there may be instances where you simply have an excess amount of odour-causing bacteria in your mouth. In this case, our hygienist can equip you with a mouthwash designed to kill these bacteria, leaving you with minty fresh breath.
Early detection
Prevention is better than cure; our hygienist will be able to accurately detect where cavities are most likely to form in your mouth and provide you with prompt treatment to prevent them.
They can also predict the likelihood of gum disease too.