Dental Hygiene in Warlingham

• Healthy Gums don't bleed.
• 19 in 20 of us has gum disease. Most of us don't even know it.
• Gum disease is the biggest cause of tooth loss.
• Dental Plaque looks unsightly and is unhealthy
• New research confirms that gum disease is linked to chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

Why should I see a hygienist? Simple they will save your teeth!

Regular visits to a good hygienist will reduce the risk of gum disease, tooth decay and dental plaque build up. So much so, that hygienists can often pick up the earliest signs of tooth decay, which can be treated without the need for DRILLING or NEEDLES!

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Sounds good.

As a result this will save you time and money with the dentist, whose role will be limited to monitoring your teeth rather than restoring your teeth following episodes of decay.

Sounds even better!

How do I know if my gums are healthy?

In truth, you don't, but in general your gums will:

• look light pink in colour, not red.
• not look puffy or sore.
• DO NOT bleed.
• do not have tartar (calculus) on them.

When we examine your teeth, we also look very closely at your gums and have a good way of measuring their health. We can score your gums on a scale of 0 to 4:

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As you can see as the number gets higher your risk of dental problems greatly increases. The idea is to keep this score as low as possible, ideally 0. Patients with the number 3 or 4 will require very regular preventative hygiene treatment to prevent the disease process causing further damage to the bone and gum surrounding each tooth. We continually measure the gums each time we see you, so we are aware if problems are getting worse, and if further treatment maybe required.

The British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) say that 95% of us suffers from gum disease, many of us do not realise this or that the condition could have serious consequences. Gum disease cannot be cured, but it does develop very slowly. Once identified the progression maybe reduced or halted.

The causes of gum disease

Gum disease is any inflammation or infection in the tissues that support your teeth. It is caused by plaque bacteria that stick to the surface of your teeth and gums. In the early stages it is usually symptom free, but can with time develop into more serious gingivitis or periodontal disease.

There is evidence that gum disease runs in families, but it is usually poor cleaning that that is the main factor. Smoking is another factor. Smoking not only reduces the oxygen in the bloodstream, it can make it more sticky. The blood cells then find it harder to go to the areas of inflammation in the mouth caused by dental plaque. Oh yes, smoking causes more plaque formation!

The best way to prevent any of this happening is to visit a hygienist regularly, so request an appointment online now.