Hygienists are dental professionals trained to keep your teeth clean, healthy and educate you on the best way to effectively clean your teeth at home. A hygienist will remove any excess plaque or tartar from your teeth which brushing alone will not take care of.
They can recommend specific tools that you can purchase and use at home to improve your daily dental hygiene routine, which can prevent the development of cavities, bad breath and gum disease.
You can definitely help to keep your teeth healthy through regular brushing and flossing. This will help prevent the build-up of plaque on your teeth. Over time plaque becomes harder and turns into tartar or calculus (calcified plaque) which is particularly bad for your teeth as it can lead to cavities and gum disease. Dental hygienists will remove this plaque using specific procedures such as scaling and polishing.
Dentists and hygienists recommend brushing twice a day for at least two minutes each time. Brushing in a regular and gentle motion is the most effective way to clean your teeth. Daily flossing will help to remove any food that is stuck in between your teeth. Flossing and brushing too hard can cause you gums to bleed (bleeding gums is also and early sign of gum disease).
A dental hygiene check-up will also help identify any potential problems you have with your teeth. Issues can be noticed and diagnosed early to prevent the additional costs and discomfort that are associated with dental problems.