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Cosmetic Dental Clinics in Hammersmith

Protecting your teeth health

Dental Hygienist

Protecting your oral health and maintaining a beautiful smile

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Dental hygienists at Askew Dental Care

Dental hygienists work together with dentists to keep your teeth and gums clean. By keeping your mouth, teeth and gums free from bacteria, you can help to reduce the chance of plaque forming on your teeth which can cause tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath.

Your oral health is strongly linked to your general health. It has been proven that certain diseases like heart disease, cancer diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease often show symptoms in your mouth. So, by protecting your oral health, you can protect your general health too.

Patients from Hammersmith, Shepherd’s Bush and Turnham Green know our dental hygienist, Eman Beck, is highly experienced and renowned for her gentle work and skill in dealing with anxious patients.

We recommend that you see a dental hygienist every 6 months or more frequently if your dentist or hygienist advises.

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What does a dental hygienist do?

Hygienists are primarily concerned with eliminating bacteria and removing the build-up of plaque on your teeth which is known as tartar. They also focus on preventative measures and work with you to reduce the amount of bacteria which collects in your mouth in the first place.

Dental hygienist process in 3 easy steps

Scale and polish

This is one of the more common treatments that hygienists offer. Using a special tool, your hygienist will gently scrape and remove all traces of tartar from your teeth which cannot be removed using a toothbrush. They will also clean between your teeth, reaching the more difficult places that a toothbrush may miss. Your teeth will look and feel much better after this treatment.

Identifying and treating gum disease

If you have a build-up of plaque and tartar especially close to the gum line, you may develop gum disease. Many people experience the first stage of gum disease in their life which is known as gingivitis. You may have sore or red gums which bleed after brushing and you may experience bad breath.

Gingivitis can be easily treated by your hygienist – they will remove the plaque and thoroughly clean your mouth, teeth and gums to remove the bacteria and treat bad breath. If gingivitis is not treated, it can develop into the next stage of gum disease known as periodontitis which is more serious and can lead to tooth loss.

Give advice

Another important role of your hygienist is to offer advice. They can talk to you about how best to keep your teeth and gums clean at home and prevent the build-up of bacteria. Your hygienist can show you how to properly brush your teeth, help with flossing and give advice about mouth washes and interdental toothbrushes should you need them.

If you wear braces or have any type of restorations such as dentures, bridges, crowns or veneers, your hygienist can tell you how best to keep these and your teeth clean.

Finally, your dental hygienist can discuss diet and lifestyle issues which may impact your oral health. This can include advice on how to give up smoking, drinking less fizzy drinks and limiting certain foods and drinks which will stain your teeth.

Why choose Askew Dental Care in Shepherd’s Bush for dental hygiene?

Patients from White City, Acton, Hammersmith and West London choose Askew Dental Care for dental hygiene because:

  • We offer a high quality and personalised service to all our patients
  • We have been established for over 60 years with regular patients from areas including Hammersmith, Shepherd’s Bush and throughout West London
  • We welcome patients of all ages and build caring relationships which last a lifetime
  • We offer a wide range of general, cosmetic and restorative dental treatments in our relaxing and friendly environment
  • We offer 0% finance options, which helps make the cost of dentistry affordable
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What are the benefits of seeing a dental hygienist?

There are many reasons to regularly see a dental hygienist:
  • A thorough clean and scale and polish will make your teeth look brighter and whiter as stains are removed
  • Your dental hygienist can treat and manage plaque which if left untreated can turn into tartar and is more difficult to deal with
  • If you have bad breath, your dental hygienist can treat it
  • Your dental hygienist can help reduce your chance of getting gum disease or identify and treat it if necessary
  • By regularly seeing a dental hygienist, you will minimise your chances of developing tooth decay and the need for fillings
  • By protecting your oral health, you will be protecting your general health too

FAQs

If I regularly see my dentist, why do I need to see a hygienist?

Your dentist works together with your hygienist. Whilst your dentist will check over and keep an eye on everything including your bite, cavities and the health of your teeth, your dental hygienist is more concerned with the cleanliness of your mouth. By eradicating and preventing the build-up of bacteria, you can reduce your chances of developing gum disease, tooth decay and bad breath.

How can I best keep my teeth and gums clean at home?

Our dentists and hygienists aim to work with you in partnership to ensure your optimum oral health. We recommend that you thoroughly brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes at least twice a day. You should floss at least once a day as this cleans between your teeth where the toothbrush cannot reach. You should limit the amount of sugar you consume – especially fizzy drinks which are the worst for developing cavities. We encourage you to give up smoking which can have a severe effect on your oral as well as your general health.

Is it important to use a mouthwash?

A mouthwash isn’t essential. Some people like to use a daily mouthwash to keep their breath fresh, which is fine, but the mouthwash shouldn’t act as a substitute for brushing or flossing.