Dental Hygiene
in Plymouth

Dental hygiene is about preventing tooth decay and gum disease, and in oral health, prevention is always better (and cheaper) than cure.

Seeing the hygienist is all about reducing the level of bacteria accumulating in your mouth. Even with the best tooth brushing technique in the world, most people miss parts of their mouth regularly.

Gradually, bacteria builds up in these places and hardens owing to the minerals in your saliva. Once these deposits have hardened, they need to be removed professionally as your toothbrush won’t be able to do it.

Bacteria in the body can also get into the bloodstream through the mouth and gradually contribute to health problems such as heart disease if left untreated.

If your gums are sore and red, or if flossing causes them to swell or bleed, you may be suffering from periodontal disease (gum disease).

Gum disease is caused by the accumulation of bacterial plaque in the teeth. Plaque is a sticky scab of food debris, saliva and bacteria. When the plaque becomes hard, the bacteria release toxins causing the gums (soft tissues) to become irritated. With the progress of the disease, the damage to the soft tissues around the teeth, as well as the bone that supports them, increases.

A significant portion of the adult population has periodontal disease, and they don’t know it! Most people do not know of it since this disease usually occurs without pain. Periodontal disease can start from simple inflammation of the gums to result in more significant damage to soft tissues and bones that support the teeth.

Whether your periodontal disease is controlled, improved or worsened depends significantly on how good daily dental care you have.

Almost 70% of adult tooth loss can be attributed to periodontal disease, and studies suggest that there may be a link between periodontal disease and other diseases such as stroke, bacterial pneumonia, diabetes, cardiovascular (heart) diseases. … Good oral hygiene and regular visits to your dentist can help you reduce your risk of developing periodontal disease or stop it if you suffer from any of the following symptoms:

• Pus around the teeth and gums
• Gum Refraction
• Loose teeth
• New spaces between the teeth

Part of your regular check-up is a periodontal exam that will be done by either your dentist or your registered dental hygienist. They will use a periodontal instrument to gently measure the gums between each of their teeth and gums. Healthy gums have a depth of 3mm or less and do not bleed. Gums that bleed or have a depth of more than 3mm indicate the presence and extent of periodontal disease. SmileCare Plymouth hygienist will use the depth of the gums, amount of bleeding, inflammation and the degree of movement your teeth have to make a periodontal diagnosis that will categorize it as:

Healthy gums have a pink Colour with deep gums that measure 3mm or less and do not bleed. There will be no sign of bone loss or loose teeth.

Gingivitis is the first stage of periodontal disease. The plaque and bacterial toxins will have started to irritate the gums, turning them red, swollen, suffering and tend to bleed.

The gingivitis that is treated leads to the accumulation of calculus (hardened plaque) in the teeth. As the calculation and plaque accumulate, the gums become even more irritated and begin to retract from the teeth. Even deeper gums form between the gum and your teeth and create many more areas in your mouth where the bacteria hide and continue to leave toxic waste. The gums become irritated and begin to show signs of infection, including inflammation, bleeding, swelling and pus. Mild to moderate bone loss may occur.

Untreated, periodontal disease results in loss of soft tissue, bone, and periodontal ligaments that attach their teeth to their bones. Affected teeth will loosen, and you may lose them.

After your periodontal review, your dentist and dental hygienist will recommend the appropriate treatment, depending on the type and severity of the gum disease, you will be advised to continue maintaining your good oral health with regular cleanings every six months.

If you are in the early stage of gingivitis, we will recommend cleaning more often and give you specific instructions on what to do at home to recover your oral health as quickly as possible. If your gum disease is more advanced, you may need a treatment called root scraping and smoothing. This procedure removes tartar, plaque, and toxins from above and below the level of the gum (scraping) and the scratchy areas on the surfaces of the ally root. Dr Rafal Topolski offer services that help you improve gum health. These procedures help the soft tissue of the gums to heal and the gum of infection to be reduced, medications, medicated mouthwashes, and electric toothbrushes may be recommended to help control the infection and speed recovery.

Smilecare has the only full-time hygienist in Plymouth, available five days a week. To book an appointment call 01752 663 239 or email smile@smilecareplymouth.co.uk.

If you have cavities, have lost teeth or have gum problems, be careful. Much has been said about how dental health influences the rest of the body. Now a study shows its relationship with diabetes. It would be best if you comply with the basic rule of brushing your teeth three times a day if you want that risk to fall by 8%. If you are careless with your dental hygiene, pay attention: the presence of dental diseases increases the chances of suffering this disease by 9%, and if your damage is such that you have lost fifteen or more teeth, that number rises to 21%.