Dental Hygiene

Gum disease can come in an early form (gingivitis) or an advanced form (periodontitis) and affects the supporting structures that hold your teeth in place. The presence of plaque is what increases your risk of gum disease, and failing to have this removed can result in inflammation of the gums, the first stage of gum disease.

It’s vital that you come in to have it professionally dealt with by a hygiene therapist. Failing to do so can lead to the bone, beneath your gums, pulling away from the teeth, creating a space between the teeth and gums called a pocket.This is where real damage can occur, as once formed, pockets can harbour even more plaque and further bone can become affected and shrink away from the teeth, which in turn causes teeth to become loose. Eventually, tooth loss can occur, which can be devastating for patients.

Gum disease often has a slow and symptomless on set which is why it’s important to have them examined regularly by a hygiene therapist, who can spot the first signs before significant problems are allowed to occur. Habits such as smoking and vaping can cut the blood supply off from the gums, which worsens the gum disease process, and it’s not always easy to tell if there is an onset occurring.

Symptoms of gum disease can include:

• Bleeding when you floss and brush
• Bad breath
• Receding gums (gums pulling away from teeth)
• A bad taste in your mouth
• Gaps forming between teeth
• Swollen and painful gums
• Changes to the way your teeth bite down together
• Loose teeth

This really comes down to the individual patient. For those with a history of gum disease, we recommend regular appointments every 3 months so its progression can be closely monitored. Meanwhile, some patients may only need to come in twice a year, particularly those with an excellent at-home hygiene routine and lifestyle.

We love to go the extra mile for our patients, which is why we’ve chosen to give you the optimum method of hygiene care as standard. The state-of-the-art Airflow Polishing system also known as Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT), comfortably and efficiently removes plaque and stains, particularly in hard-to-reach areas of the mouth. For your comfort, the water used during the session is heated to 40◦c preventing that sensitive feeling that can often be experienced with the conventional method of scale cleaning.

The Airflow system bolsters the effects of a traditional scale and polish, going the extra mile to banish virtually all the plaque present on your teeth, using minimally-invasive and speedy techniques.