Dental hygiene in West Bridgford

Dental hygiene treatments at Hilton Dental Clinic

Dental hygiene treatments help to keep your teeth and gums clean, which helps to reduce the build-up of plaque and bacteria and keep infections and tooth decay at bay. Much like dental check-ups, it’s important to have semi-regular dental hygiene visits to maintain great oral health, and keep your breath nice and fresh.

A dental hygiene treatment at Hilton Dental usually includes a deep clean and scale of your teeth and gums to remove any trapped food and plaque, check for early signs of decay, and a thorough polish to make sure you leave with squeaky clean teeth and fresh breath.

The benefits of a dental hygiene treatment

• Remove plaque and tartar, which cause decay
• Identify issues such as gum disease early on
• Remove and help to prevent light teeth staining
• Treat the symptoms that can cause bad breath
• Tailored oral health, cleaning, and flossing advice

Flossing

We’ve all been told at some stage that flossing is important for healthy teeth and gums, and here’s why.

Debris from the food we consume naturally accumulates between the teeth and, if not regularly removed, bacteria will develop and plaque will form. It’s important that we floss on a daily basis (or as often as you can) in order to remove the food and prevent the buildup of plaque. The best way to floss is to use a back and forth and vertical motion between the teeth and until all the plaque is removed, making sure to be gentle with the gum line. 

Flossing with braces or dental bridges

Flossing underneath orthodontic braces or bridges can be a little difficult, so we recommend using Superfloss, which has a stiff end that can be poked through the gaps in the teeth to get below any wires.

You can use the stiff end of the Superfloss to insert between the teeth, pull it through, and then sweep under the wire or attachment to reach the places you can’t access with regular floss. 

Effective brushing

Over the course of a day, food and debris get lodged in between your teeth, and in any gaps you may have. If left, this debris can cause dental decay and gum disease.

Removing food debris and plaque with an interdental brush will help keep your breath fresh. Cleaning in between your teeth makes sure that you are cleaning your mouth as thoroughly as possible.

Brushing your teeth is a crucial part of keeping your teeth and gums free of plaque, but normal toothbrushes often struggle to reach the spaces between the gums. This is where dental hygiene appointments come in, but there are also some at-home solutions you can use in between your hygiene visits to keep your teeth and gums clean. Your dentist will be able to guide you in the right direction according to your specific oral health needs. 

Fresh breath

Having bad breath is a very common problem, and there are lots of different causes.

Persistent bad breath is usually caused by the unpleasant sulphur gases which are released by the bacteria that coat your teeth and gums, and especially the back of your tongue. However, with regular brushing, flossing, and dental hygiene visits, you can keep the plaque at bay and keep your teeth and gums clean to encourage fresh breath.

Common causes of bad breath

• An underlying medical cause such as throat, nose, or lung infections, sinusitis, bronchitis, gastro-intestinal conditions, or diabetes.
• Poor dental hygiene and a lack of regular brushing and flossing to remove bacteria and bits of food trapped in between your teeth.
• Consuming strong, odorous foods like garlic, onions, and coffee, and lifestyle factors like smoking