Dental Hygiene at The Smile Boutique
Our dental therapists Amy & Jo help clients of The Smile Boutique to maintain high levels of oral health. Amy and Jo are here to help you have cleaner and healthier teeth and prevent any severe issues from arising further down the line.
Dental hygiene isn’t just about good teeth brushing (although that’s a great start!), you should also be visiting a hygienist like Amy and Jo regularly. Let’s take a closer look at why you should book your dental hygiene appointment today.
What is a dental hygiene therapist?
Are you curiously wondering about what the difference is between a dentist and a dental hygiene therapist? If so, we’ve got the answer for you that’ll clear things up.
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Dental hygiene therapists tend to focus on the more basic routine dentistry work that dentists have to carry out. Their job is to educate you on the importance of dental hygiene and treat patients using the following types of procedures (not limited to):
- Oral assessments
- Dental scaling and polishing
- Taking dental x-rays
- Teeth whitening
For our dental hygiene therapists at The Smile Boutique, dental hygiene and therapy come hand in hand. Our friendly and passionate team of specialists want to teach you the expert knowledge we have on how to keep your oral hygiene in tip-top shape.
The importance of dental hygiene
By taking regular visits to The Smile Boutiques hygienist team, we will help make sure that your gums and teeth always remain clean and healthy. The dental hygiene therapist will remove any hidden and hard-to-reach plaque lurking, which if left uncleaned, may lead to gum disease. We help you get to the root of any problem before more severe dental issues begin.
Most importantly of all, tooth decay and gum disease are the biggest reasons why you may lose one, two, or more teeth as adults. If gum disease worsens without the care and treatment from a dentist, it can, unfortunately, lead to tender, swollen and painful bleeding gums. And that’s without mentioning the bad breath that comes with it! Some studies prove that gum disease is even associated with very serious health issues like heart disease, strokes, and diabetes.
In addition to preventing the onset of severe gum disease and other serious health issues, a visit to your dental hygiene therapist will also include:
- The maintenance of whiter and brighter teeth.
- The polishing of your teeth to remove stains.
- The learning of important information and advice on good oral hygiene.
What to expect when you visit a dental hygiene therapist
Any dentist appointment can feel daunting, but here at The Smile Boutique, you’ve got nothing to worry about.
You should expect three things when you visit a dental hygiene appointment:
- An initial examination and general check-up of your teeth and gums.
- The scaling of your teeth to remove any plaque in, around, and between your teeth.
- Personal advice on how you can maintain your oral hygiene.
If your dental hygiene therapist spots any major signs of severe gum disease, they may refer you to a periodontist to treat the issue with more complex dentistry procedures.
Top tips for great oral hygiene
As well as scaling, cleaning, and polishing your teeth, a dental hygiene therapist will also teach you the very best oral hygiene tips and tricks. The more you know about how to brush your teeth properly, the better your oral hygiene will be.
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There’s a scientific knack to effective tooth brushing, so here are five things you need to remember:
- Don’t disregard the importance of flossing!
- Preferably use an electric toothbrush.
- Don’t forget about cleaning your tongue (this will help with bad breath).
- Brush for around 2 minutes (both day and night!)
- Don’t wash your mouth out after (any remaining fluoride will be washed away).
The Smile Boutique’s team is also able to advise you on how you yourself can practice effective oral hygiene in the comfort of your home. You shouldn’t wait for your next appointment with a dental hygienist to make sure your teeth are clean and healthy. There are techniques you should be mastering too.
Keeping your mouth clean and healthy will not only improve your appearance, but it will also ensure that your breath stays fresh and most importantly, will help to ward off a number of health conditions.
Our dental hygiene centre
If you’re concerned about your own oral hygiene or have noticed certain warning signs for gum disease, it’s important you book a dentist appointment to seek professional advice.
Your dentist will also advise you as to how often you should make an appointment with our hygienist, so for further information, feel free to contact our dental practice on 01733 551534.
The Smile Boutique also offers direct access to our hygiene services without having to book an appointment with a dentist or orthodontist in Peterborough. The team here at our dental hygiene centre are always happy to help.
To book an appointment with either Amy or Jo, please call us on 01733 551 534. We look forward to welcoming you and helping you achieve the perfect gleaming smile you deserve.
How to Brush
Frequently Asked Questions
Although we wouldn’t recommend skipping checkups with your regular dentist, you can see our hygienists without seeing your dentist first.
Up until a few years ago, it was compulsory to see your dentist before booking an appointment with a hygienist, but now, you can go right ahead and book in.
Of course, for optimal oral health, you should see both your dentist and dental hygienist. But if you want to spruce up your smile – be it before a big event or you jet off on holiday – or you feel like your brushing technique needs some work, a hygienist would be more than happy to help without a referral from your dentist.
If you’re looking for a dental hygienist in Peterborough, The Smile Boutique is the place to be, and we’d be more than happy to help you get your oral health on the right track.
To book an appointment with us, give us a call today on 01733 551 534, or send us an email and we’ll be in touch to arrange a suitable date and time.
Both dentists and dental hygienists are qualified, registered professionals and can carry out a range of everyday dental treatments.
However, dentists have a broader range of skills that enable them to restore and treat your teeth and gums – whereas hygienists specialise in the cleaning, scaling, and polishing of the teeth to preserve them and prevent oral diseases like periodontal (gum) disease.
For example, if you need a filling or a tooth extraction, you should see your regular dentist, and if you’re looking to keep on top of plaque build-up, prevent gum disease or need expert oral hygiene tips, you should see a hygienist.
Between appointments with your hygienist, there are some things you can do to improve and maintain your oral health at home:
Brush your teeth twice a day – Not only is brushing twice a day important but the way you brush your teeth, too. Take your time, spending 30 seconds in each quadrant of your mouth brushing in gentle circular motions to remove debris and plaque. If you can, invest in an electric toothbrush. They make brushing your teeth much easier and do a much better job of removing plaque and build-up on your teeth.
Use fluoride toothpaste – When choosing a toothpaste, make sure to pick one that has fluoride. Fluoride is a leading defence against tooth decay and acts as a protective barrier for your teeth.
Don’t forget to brush your tongue – Your tongue is a hotspot for bacteria, so brushing it is just as important as brushing your teeth if you want to avoid tooth decay and bad breath.
Floss at least once a day – Many people forget to floss, but you need to do so at least once a day. Not only does this remove plaque debris from between your teeth, but it also stimulates the gums and helps reduce inflammation.
Yes!
Visiting a hygienist every couple of months for a scale and polish will remove surface stains and encourage healthy gums.
With this being part of your dental routine, your teeth will, naturally, appear much brighter.
However, it’s important to remember that a hygienist won’t be able to whiten your teeth beyond their natural shade, and if you wish to change the shade of your teeth, you should consider teeth whitening treatments to achieve this.
To book an appointment with our expert dental hygienists at The Smile Boutique, or to find out more about how it could benefit your smile, give us a call today on 01733 551 534.
