Hygiene and Prevention
Hygiene and prevention lie at the heart of everything we do here at Elmet Dental Care. Tooth decay and gum disease are life-changing problems that are also entirely preventable with a simple cleaning routine and regular visits to your dentist and hygienist. While daily cleaning keeps plaque under control, visiting us regularly means we can treat any problems before they are allowed to become more serious.
Air Polishing for a Fresher, Brighter Smile
At Elmet Dental Care, we’re pleased to offer professional air polishing, an advanced approach to dental hygiene that can help remove surface staining and plaque while leaving your teeth feeling beautifully clean and refreshed.
Using a controlled combination of air, water and fine polishing powder, air polishing can gently clean the teeth and reach areas that may be difficult to access with conventional cleaning techniques. It is particularly effective at helping to lift everyday surface staining from foods, drinks and other common causes.
For patients looking to enhance their smile, air polishing can also be a valuable part of a teeth whitening journey. Removing surface staining beforehand can help provide a clean starting point for whitening, while regular professional cleaning can help you maintain a fresh, healthy-looking smile afterwards.
Air polishing may also be appropriate for some patients with dental restorations, implants or braces, helping us to tailor your hygiene treatment to your individual needs. Your dental professional will assess your teeth, gums and any restorations before recommending the most appropriate cleaning approach.
Whether you’re preparing for teeth whitening, looking to refresh your smile or simply want to maintain excellent oral hygiene, our team can advise whether air polishing is right for you.
Regular visits to the hygienist are vital to maintain good oral health and are an important supplement to regular check-ups. Having made an assessment of your condition, the hygienist will recommend an appropriate treatment interval.
The hygienist will carry out a scale and polish – a professional deep clean that removes disease-causing plaque and tartar from under and around the gum line. The hygienist is also qualified to advise you on the latest techniques and products for effective cleaning at home, as well as tips on diet, nutrition and lifestyle issues such as smoking and alcohol intake.
Quite simply, gum disease begins with bad oral hygiene – let your regular brushing and flossing slide, and you’ll allow a film of bacteria – known as plaque – to build up around the gum line. Caused by the food that remains on your teeth after eating, plaque eventually hardens to become tartar. Together, they attack the tooth enamel, making gums and teeth vulnerable to disease and decay.
The first sign is blood on the toothbrush or in the rinsing water when you clean your teeth. Your gums may also bleed when you are eating, leaving a bad taste in your mouth. Your breath may also become unpleasant. Early signs like these are known as gingivitis – a condition that is reversible with good oral hygiene. If left untreated, though, it progresses to periodontitis, a much more serious condition that is much harder to treat and can lead to tooth loss.
Limiting your intake of sugar and acid is the key to avoiding cavities and gum problems. While it’s easy to cut down on sweets and lemonade, there are lots of foods and drinks out there that you may not realise are bad for your teeth, such as stir-in sauces, baked beans, soups, ready meals and acid-rich drinks like green juices and smoothies.
No, air polishing is painless and typically can be completed in around 30 minutes. It does not require anaesthetic or any other type of pain management, and is ideal for nervous patients.
Almost any type of surface stain can be removed with the help of Air polishing from everyday tea, coffee and red wine stains to the kind of stains caused by smoking. For certain stains, such as those caused naturally by ageing, a professional teeth whitening treatment may be more suitable for you. We will advise you accordingly.