Dental Hygiene Appointments in Milton Keynes

What is a Dental Hygiene appointment and do I really need one? 🤔🦷

Although we are able to offer a wide range of dental treatments to restore or even replace missing teeth, here at Abacus Dental care we’d always rather prevent dental problems from developing in the first place. Here at Abacus we have a dedicated dental hygienist and dentists who love working with our patients and they will help you gain and maintain optimal dental health.

Why should I book a hygiene appointment? Is the question you may be asking yourself and the fact is gum disease is a real problem and it’s the most common cause of tooth loss in the world, however we still find that many people overlook the need for healthy gums.  Healthy gums provide essential support for your teeth and if you have poor gum health then you are more likely to suffer tooth loss. Your regular dental cleaning will clean your teeth far more effectively than your everyday routine of brushing and flossing, helping to keep your gums strong and healthy.

Well what actually is Gum disease? Gum disease is a bacterial infection caused by a buildup of plaque and plaque develops over time if you miss out certain areas of your teeth when brushing and flossing. For example the surface closest to the tongue on the lower anterior teeth is the most common area for build up. The problem is that plaque hardens quite quickly into calculus or tartar, which is extremely hard and can only be removed by being scaled or scraped away during your hygiene appointment. Moreover, when tartar remains in your teeth, it produces toxins that infect your gums. Over time, your gums are likely to begin bleeding and you may notice they have begun to recede or pull away from your teeth.
This infection will eventually destroy the bone holding your teeth in their sockets and your teeth will become loose. This is why we believe here at Abacus Dental care that it is so essential to have regular hygiene appointments to remove tartar and prevent infection in your gums.

What does a hygiene appointment involve? One of the main reasons to attend a hygiene appointment is so your teeth can be professionally cleaned or scaled and polished. This is a non-invasive process that doesn’t usually require a local anaesthetic as after examining your mouth, our hygienist will gently scrape away all hardened tartar. This tends to build up at your gum line which is the junction where your teeth meet your gums, as well as in between your teeth.
Once all the tartar has been removed, your teeth are gently polished which removes some slight surface staining so a benefit of this is that you will notice your smile looks a little brighter and fresher than before leaving you feeling more confident.

How can I improve my cleaning techniques at home to prevent plaque and tartar build up?Even if you regularly brush and floss your teeth, it’s still fairly easy to miss out certain parts of your mouth. Knowing where to pay more attention can help significantly. We know only too well that people often fail to clean interdentally regularly, but it’s so important for gum health. Those contact areas in between your teeth account for around a third of all your tooth surfaces and even if you hate flossing, there are other tools you can try.

Our hygienist here at Abacus Dental care can explain how to floss more effectively and easily, or if you prefer she can show you how to use interdental brushes. These are tiny Christmas tree shaped brushes that fit in between the teeth and they can be extremely effective, particularly for anybody with limited dexterity.

Dr Sukal Verma

BDS, MJDF RCS (Eng), PG Dip (Implant Dentistry)

If you would like to know more about obtaining an Oral Health Check in Milton Keynes then please call Abacus Dental Care on 01908 260757 to arrange your dental check-up with one of our dentists.