Dental Hygiene

The best way to keep your gums, teeth, and mouth healthy is by regularly brushing and flossing your teeth and booking preventative dental care check-ups and professional dental cleanings twice a year.

Professional dental cleanings by a hygienist can help to prevent and detect tooth decay and gum disease, as well as make your teeth look cleaner and brighter.

What happens during professional teeth cleaning?

After examining your mouth and recording signs of gum disease such as bleeding, inflammation and tartar, your teeth and gums are cleaned. Stubborn plaque and tartar are removed using special instruments, an ultrasonic scaler or by Airflow Tooth Brushing by a dental hygienist.

After removing the plaque and tartar, the hygienist will polish your teeth using a power toothbrush and a special gritty toothpaste. This removes surface stains, and your teeth will feel smooth and look shiny afterwards.

The hygienist will finish the treatment by flossing your teeth and discussing any areas of concern.

How can poor dental hygiene affect overall health?

Good dental and oral health contribute to good overall health. Poor dental hygiene can cause cavities and gum disease which can impair your ability to speak and eat properly, causing discomfort of the mouth and bad breath.

Poor dental health can also have harmful effects on different areas of the body. The heart can also be adversely affected when you neglect your oral hygiene.

What is good dental hygiene?

Good dental hygiene comes from brushing thoroughly twice each day, flossing at least once per day and using an antibacterial mouthwash. Flossing helps to remove food debris from difficult to reach areas. Following your daily oral routine, rinse your mouth out with mouthwash to ensure no harmful bacteria remains.

Sugar can negatively impact teeth and can cause tooth decay or gum disease, so it is crucial to limit sugary foods and drinks.

At Shawlands Dental Care we are committed to ensuring that each of our patients has the highest level of oral health possible. That is why we offer professional dental cleanings and comprehensive dental exams.

How to brush