4 consequences of missing a hygiene appointment

You’ve probably heard of a hygienist, but perhaps you’re not sure how the services a hygienist offers is different to that of a dentist? Perhaps you are aware that you should have regular appointments with the hygienist in Worthing, but would prefer to see a dentist instead, mainly because you understand the role of the dentist, and the title for you holds more gravitas.
We’ve put this post together to help you understand what it is your hygienist actually does, as well as the detrimental effects on your teeth and gums than missing an appointment with him or her can have.

Our hygienist at Down House Dental Practice is, along with you, in charge of maintaining the health of your teeth and gums. It is your job to ensure you brush your teeth well, twice-daily, using a fluoride toothpaste. It’s your hygienist’s job to remove the food deposits that you have inevitably missed when you brushed your teeth. Your hygienist will examine your teeth, remove the soft deposits by hand and scrape away harder deposits, tartar, plaque and stains. Your session will conclude with a polish, which will leave your teeth looking brighter, whiter and cleaner.

If your hygienist didn’t perform this vital task every few months, even with the best will in the world, it’s very likely that the remains of the meals you have eaten will stay on your teeth. Let’s have a look at the consequences of this:

1. Tooth decay – Tooth decay is caused by sugar eating away at your tooth enamel. Have you eaten anything with sugar in it today, and if you have, can you be sure you got rid of it all when you brushed your teeth? Untreated tooth decay leads to cavities, resulting in you having a filling.
2. Gum disease – Symptoms of gum disease in the early stages are red, swollen gums which bleed. Have you ever noticed blood in your spit after brushing? If so, you could have mild gum disease. If left untreated, gun disease been associated with heart disease, strokes and diabetes. It occurs when tartar along the gumline is allowed to remain on your teeth without being removed.
3. Tooth loss – When dental problems escalate, they can result in you losing a tooth. Often, the problems that lead to your tooth loss could have been avoided by visiting the hygienist. Your hygienist will be looking for warning signs in your teeth, with a view to providing remedying action before a dental problem gets out of hand, leading to you having a gap in your smile.
4. Depression – The more you smile, the happier you feel. There is research to back this up. If you’re hiding a smile because you feel embarrassed about your fillings, your red, sore looking gums or your lack of teeth, you could be setting yourself up for about of depression.

Why not let our hygienist here in Steyning help you maintain your tooth health and happiness? If you are long overdue a visit, please give us a call and we’ll fit you in as a matter of priority. Please get in touch to make the first appointment.