Dental Hygiene

Regular visits to the hygienist at Homerton Dental Care are key to gaining and maintaining great oral health.

Our hygiene team performs a range of treatments designed to complement your personal care at home. This includes the ‘scale and polish’ treatment as well as keeping a close eye on your gum health.

Over time, a substance called tartar builds up on the teeth and around the gum line. This deposit is made up from bacteria and minerals which combine to irritate the gums, progressively leading to gum disease. Early stage gum disease is called gingivitis and at this stage it is treatable and often reversible through better oral hygiene.

However, when gingivitis progresses to become periodontitis, a serious form of gum disease, a range of problems result including:

• bad breath
• bleeding gums
• eventual tooth loss

This is why it is essential to maintain diligent personal care at home together with regular visits to our hygienist here at Homerton Dental Care.

What is “scale and polish”?

When you attend for your hygienist appointment, we will carry out a ‘scale and polish’ treatment. This uses an ultrasonic tool which gently breaks down the tartar on your teeth and we will also use manual tools to access the gaps between your teeth to ensure they are clean.

Finally we will use a high-speed brush to polish your teeth to remove surface staining and leave them fresh and clean.

Scale and polish is usually recommended every six months but some people, for example diabetics, may need to attend slightly more frequently. Our friendly team will advise.

Oral health education

In addition to treatments, our hygiene team also provides comprehensive guidance to help you with your oral health care at home. We can advise about flossing, different types of toothpastes and even how your diet can affect the health of your teeth and gums.

If you are seeking professional dental hygiene for you and your family in the local area, please get in touch with the team at Homerton Dental Care on 020 8985 6650.