When it comes to your teeth, one of the most important aspects of dental health is oral hygiene. Keeping your teeth clean will help to fight dental disease and improve the health of your teeth. In fact, unlike most other areas of the body, your own actions will have a direct result on you’re ability to avoid dental disease.

This is because dental disease such as tooth decay and gum disease is caused by a build up of a sticky substance called plaque. This builds up around the teeth and gums if not removed and releases acids which erode tooth enamel and gum tissue. Plaque will eventually harden and become tartar if not removed by brushing and flossing, which cannot be removed by conventional cleaning and will need to be scraped clean by a dentist.

Effective oral hygiene mostly consists of brushing and flossing at home. Braintree dentists recommend that you brush your teeth for three minutes twice a day. This will help to remove plaque and other bacteria from the surface of the teeth. It is best to use a soft bristled brush angled at forty-five degrees to the teeth. This will help to remove plaque more efficiently and also stimulate gum tissue helping to keep it healthy.

Flossing is very important because it removes plaque and bacteria from areas of the mouth that are very difficult to reach with a toothbrush. This includes the small spaces between the teeth and also around the base in the pockets between the teeth and gums. It is these areas that are harder to reach that are often the initial location of dental disease so you should floss at least once every day. This will also help to remove food particles, which are the cause of many cases of bad breath. It is also very important to team good oral hygiene with regular visits to your dentist. Call 01245 268 494 for a free consultation at Advance Dental Clinic in Chelmsford.

The health and appearance of your teeth is very much dependant on how well you take care of them. Dental hygiene is fundamental to having healthy teeth that are free from decay and painful infections and it really is a matter of following a few simple rules.

The first and most important aspect of dental hygiene is brushing. This should be done twice a day fro three minutes using an appropriate brush and paste. A Chelmsford dentist can recommend the most suitable equipment for your teeth at your next check up. You should brush your teeth with the bristles at a 45-degree angle to the surface of the tooth pointing towards the gums. This helps to remove plaque and bacteria that build up on the enamel of the tooth that cause decay and gum disease.

Next to brushing is flossing, the second most important aspect of dental hygiene. Flossing between the teeth cleans the areas which are difficult or impossible to clean with a brush. These are often the places where the plaque and bacteria build up the most, attacking and wearing away the enamel causing decay and ultimately painful infection and tooth loss. It also helps to remove trapped food particles that are responsible for over 90 per cent of cases of bad breath.

Other cleaning devices such as tongue scrapers and inter-dental brushes are also useful in the battle against plaque. Mouthwashes may be useful but can also cause further dental hygiene issues so you should always ask your dentist before using them. Finally, it is crucial that this hygiene routine is backed up by regular visits to your dentist. They can spot the first signs of decay and disease and advise on the most effective ways to keep your mouth and teeth healthy. Call 01245 268 494 for a free consultation at Advance Dental Clinic in Chelmsford

It is common today that a visit to the dentist may also involve an appointment with the dental hygienist. A hygienist’s role is to professionally clean the teeth for a patient using techniques known as scaling and polishing. This specifically involves removing plaque build up and solidified plaque known as tartar which cannot be removed by brushing.

A dental hygienist works in tandem with the dentist by offering advice and cleaning demonstrations on the best way to prevent plaque build up and dental decay at home. They can also develop individually tailored cleaning plans for each patient reducing the risk of future dental concerns.

More and more dental surgeries are using dental hygienists and noticing the overall improvement for patient’s teeth. Professionally qualified, a hygienist will often be able to spend longer with you than a dentist and it is often possible to book their services by the hour. Also, because they don’t have the same caseload as the dentist they can offer a more focused treatment session.

Dental hygienists have recently been approved and trained to take x-rays which enables them to diagnose problems and suggest possible treatments. They are also fully trained to apply fluoride treatments and offer smoking cessation advice. They can also offer smokers the best advice on how to effectively clean teeth to prevent tobacco staining.

Dental hygienists are a relatively new adition to the dental health canon but they are a very valuable one. As well as reducing waiting times for all patients, they are an invaluable weapon in the war against dental decay and gum disease. At your next visit to a dentist enquire about making an appointment with the dental hygienist and you could leave the surgery with a thoroughly cleaned and healthy set of teeth. Call 01245 268 494 for a free consultation at Advance Dental Clinic in Chelmsford.