Dental Hygiene.

A scale and polish is a painless, professional-grade deep clean of your teeth, to help treat and prevent Gum Disease. An ‘ultrasonic scaler’ is used to vibrate the deposits of plaque and tartar away from your teeth. After this, your teeth are polished to make them shiny and smooth. It leaves your mouth feeling fresh and healthy, and ensures your teeth are free from tartar.

Any ‘problem areas’ will be identified by our dentists and they’ll share tips and advice on how to manage these. Our dentists will recommend toothbrushes and interdental devices that you can use to get healthier teeth and gums.

Our dental team will take the time to teach you about good oral health and provide tips for long-term benefits.

For most patients we recommended a scale and polish every 6 months, however some patients need to see us more regularly than this. You dentist will assess and discuss the right recall time for you.

Gum disease, otherwise known as gingivitis or periodontitis, is inflammation of the gums. There are many factors that contribute to gum disease, but one of the main risk factors is plaque build up.

Plaque is a film of bacteria which forms on the surface of the teeth every day. Many of the bacteria in plaque are completely harmless, but there are some that have been shown to be the main cause of gum disease.

To prevent and treat gum disease, you need to make sure you remove all the plaque from your teeth by BRUSHING your teeth using a toothbrush, TWICE A DAY for at least 2 MINUTES and cleaning in between the teeth with INTERDENTAL BRUSHES or FLOSS.

Symptoms of gum disease include:

• your gums bleeding when you brush your teeth, floss or when you are eating

• your gums becoming swollen, red and sore

• bad breath and a bad taste in the mouth

• your gums shrinking

• your teeth becoming loose or falling out

• Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day for 2 minutes each time

• Only spit and don’t rinse after brushing, this includes not using a mouthwash directly after brushing – This means you get the best benefits from your toothpaste

• Clean in between your teeth every day using floss or interdental brushes

• Replace your toothbrush or electric toothbrush head every 1 to 3 months

• See a dentist and dental hygienist for regular check-ups and cleans, especially if you have any of the signs of gum disease or you're pregnant or have type 2 diabetes

AirFlow is an add-on to your regular dental hygiene appointment recommended for those patients with excessive staining.

A fine jet of compressed air, water, and powder particles are used to remove external staining on your teeth caused by tea, coffee, red wine, smoking, and even from some mouth washes.

Your teeth will feel brighter, whiter, smoother, and rejuvenated.