Dental hygiene treatment is delivered by one of our dental hygienists who will help to remove any plaque and tartar from your teeth that may have built up in certain areas.

An important aspect of the hygienist’s role is to work with you, helping you to keep your teeth and gums free from plaque between visits. We will look at different tooth brushing techniques and give you tips on how to get to those hard to reach areas.

It is recommended that you come in for regular hygiene appointments to ensure your mouth stays clean and healthy.

Gum health can vary throughout our lives so it is important that your gums are monitored regularly by a dentist or hygienist who can spot any potential changes leading to gum disease. The sooner these changes are noted by your dental care team the sooner it can be treated, minimising any long term damage that may occur.

Diabetes and smoking are known to be significant risk factors in increasing your risk of gum disease. Diet, periods of stress and genetics also have an influence.

Recent scientific research has indicated a strong link between poor gum health and heart disease, low birth weight pregnancies and possibly Alzheimer's, although the exact reason why has yet to be determined.

What is Plaque?

Plaque is an extremely sticky deposit of biofilm that regularly forms on your teeth.

When saliva, food, and fluids combine, they produce bacteria deposits, which collect where the teeth and gums meet.

What is Tartar?

Plaque left on teeth hardens to form something called Tartar or calculus.  Tartar can build up from underneath the gum line and can irritate gum tissues.

Tartar gives plaque more surface area on which to grow and has a much stickier surface to adhere to. Not only is this a cosmetic problem resulting in stain absorption.  If left this can lead to more serious conditions, such as cavities and gum disease.

What is gum disease?

Gum disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes the supporting structures of your teeth to dissolve. This can go on for years before you notice any symptoms. Sometimes the first sign could be the loss of a tooth. If you wait until you have any symptoms, it may be too late, as gum disease is the biggest single cause of tooth loss in adults.

What are the warning signs of gum disease?

• Gums bleed easily
• Gums are red, swollen or tender
• Persistent bad breath
• An awful taste in the mouth
• Diabetes or heart disease

These could all be early warning signs of gum disease.

Air Flow

Airflow treatment offers a high pressured and concentrated blast of water, air, and bicarbonate (usually a lemon flavour) on to the surfaces of your teeth. Airflow is very effective at cleaning teeth and will also clean the hard to reach places (nooks and cranny’s), leaving you feeling very fresh.
The combination of the air, water, and bicarbonate has been proven to be effective at tackling tough stains and plaque, and you will be able to leave with much cleaner teeth than a normal hygiene visit.