Dental hygiene

Plaque is a stubborn waste product made up of bacteria, food and saliva that sticks firmly to your teeth. Acid is a harmful by-product created when the bacteria in your mouth feed on sugar and can dissolve tooth enamel, leading to cavities.

A build-up of plaque at the gum margins can become hardened over time and can lead to inflammation and bleeding gums.

Whilst you can remove a portion of the plaque from your teeth each day by brushing and flossing, some will always be left behind. This is where your hygienist comes in.

They will use special instruments to remove it, reducing your risk of unpleasant symptoms and of developing gum disease (the main cause of tooth loss in adults).

Some classic signs of gum disease are:

• Bleeding gums.
• Red and puffy gums.
• Receding gums (when your gum tissue pulls away from your teeth).
• Loose teeth.
• Brown or yellow stains on your teeth (aka waste products like plaque and tartar).

The early stages of gum disease can be controlled with good at-home care and limitations on your diet. As it’s a progressive disease, once it reaches a certain stage, the gums can’t self-repair, which is why hygienist appointments are so vital, no matter your age, gender or lifestyle.

You may wish to consider Airflow® tooth polishing if you:

• Have a heavy layer of staining coating your teeth.
• Your hygienist has flagged that you have plaque in between teeth that may not be removable using standard hand scaling equipment.