What does a dental hygienist do?
Most people think that the job of the dental hygienist is to clean your teeth by removing plaque and tartar, well they do clean your teeth but much more as well. They are responsible for examining your gums and looking for signs of oral diseases such as gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) or periodontitis (gum disease).
They are able to give advice on how to improve and maintain good oral health, they can give demonstrations on good teeth brushing, flossing and ‘interdental’ brushing to clean the gaps between teeth, apply fluoride varnishes and administer fluoride treatments.
You can follow these three simple steps to help keep your teeth and gums looking good and healthy:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day, one of these should always be last thing at night before you go to sleep, with a fluoride toothpaste
- Cut down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks
- Visit your dentist and hygienist regularly
At Brilliant Dental Care we recommend that you visit our hygienist every 3-6 months for a scale and polish to maintain your healthy gums. Our hygienists are also fully qualified to administer non-antibiotic treatment for periodontitis. If you haven’t been to see our hygienists for a while, give us a call now on 01443 229 465 o book your appointment.