Hygiene Treatment

The aim of hygiene treatment is to help you to get your teeth and gums healthy. In a healthy mouth it is less likely that decay or gum disease will continue to be a problem. The hygienist will thoroughly remove all plaque and tartar from your teeth. This is often called a ‘scale and polish'. This also involves removing any surface staining on the teeth to bring back their natural colour as much as possible. This as often carried out with a jet propulsion of fine soft particles to remove the surface staining. You will be shown the best ways to brush, and how to clean in between your teeth using interdental brushes or floss to remove the soft bacterial plaque which forms constantly on your teeth. Plaque hardens after a few days, and forms tartar, or ‘calculus'. Both plaque and calculus can cause tooth decay and gum inflammation (swelling and soreness) if it is not regularly and thoroughly removed. The hygienist may talk to you about your diet, and any habits you have such as smoking and drinking.