Dental Hygiene is an essential part of good oral health as it is the cornerstone of preventing such oral diseases as dental caries (decay) and periodontal (gum) disease. Alice and Anna, the hygienists at Upper Berkeley Dental Care are here to help you with this.
Both dental caries and periodontal disease occur due to inadequate plaque removal.
Plaque: this is a clear/yellowish sticky film that builds up on our teeth constantly throughout the day and night. It contains bacteria and debris and is of natural occurrence in the mouth. Plaque adheres to teeth and soft tissues of the mouth and can be especially difficult to remove around crowns, implants, bridges, fissures (valleys) of molar teeth etc.. Plaque gathers between teeth and so it is very important to use floss to clean these areas.
Bacteria: different types of bacteria that is contained in plaque in vast numbers is the main cause of dental decay and gum disease.
If Plaque is not brushed or flossed off all surfaces of the teeth and allowed to remain, it becomes chalky and hard (called calculus or tarter), trapping the bacteria around the gums and teeth. The bacteria produce toxins that make the gums swell, look red and bleed easily. Alice or Anna can scale your teeth and remove these hard deposits that your toothbrush now will not remove.
This not only provides a clean and fresh feeling mouth, it also prevent the bacteria from attaching itself to rough calculus surface and cause gingivitis (early gum disease) and caries. Check out our Spring Clean Offer, we look forward to seeing you this Spring!
