Think you don’t need to visit a dental hygienist? 5 ways hygienists can improve your dental health

You could be forgiven for thinking that in order to maintain a high level of dental health, all you have to do is visit your dentist twice a year, while also maintaining a good oral hygiene regime at home.

While these are of course an essential part of keeping your mouth healthy, as you age, or indeed if you have a family history of periodontal disease, you may need a bit more help to keep your pearly whites looking their best.

At Craigentinny, we can offer you a wide range of preventive treatments to keep your teeth and gums at their healthiest. Our hygienist in Edinburgh can help you maintain a high quality of oral health, while also polishing and cleaning your teeth to look their whitest! Talk about a fantastic two for one treatment!

So, how exactly does a biannual trip to our dental therapist/ hygienist in Edinburgh help keep your mouth healthy?

Learn how to care for your teeth

It may seem like an odd thing to need to visit a dental professional for, but based on your individual teeth, diet, health, and age, a dental therapist can target your home dental hygiene routine, to keep your teeth and gums in top condition.

Upon completing an examination of your mouth, our hygienist in Edinburgh will be able to identify areas that you are missing and where plaque is accumulating, and advise you on how to care for this area correctly. They can also advise you on which toothbrush is best suited to your mouth and also discuss with you which toothpaste and mouthwash you would benefit the most from.

Detecting and treating gum disease

As we age, or if we have poor oral health, we are more susceptible to gum or periodontal diseases.

While a trip to your regular dentist can identify gum disease, a trip to a dental therapist can assess the severity of the condition, suggest a treatment plan and work at removing any offending plaque.

Dental therapists can provide those who have gum disease with medicated mouthwashes and toothpaste too, to help you fight the disease at home.

Fluoride treatments

If you have the tell-tale signs of cavity formation, a dental therapist can apply a fluoride sealant to your teeth.

This will help harden the weakened enamel, restore the tooth and prevent the cavity from forming; a great way to prevent decay and infection from spreading!

Plaque removal

Known as the ‘scale and polish,’ our dental therapists can remove plaque both above and below your gum line.

This treatment prevents gum disease, cavities, and infections, whilst also whitening your smile and giving your teeth an additional sparkle!

Oral cancer screening

Oral cancer rates are rising in the UK, and at Craigentinny, we are proud to be able to offer our patients oral cancer screening as part of a dental therapist visit.

If our team is concerned with your examination, we will send you to an oral cancer specialist to continue the treatment as soon as possible.