Oral hygiene at our practice
At our practice, our team will advise you on the latest techniques for caring for your teeth and gums and will help you develop a daily routine to keep your oral health at the peak of health.
From your first visit with Dr DeLillo, our experienced team will spend time discussing your oral hygiene needs, recommending products and developing a personalised program to keep your teeth and gums healthy for life.
As well as check-ups with Dr DeLillo, we recommend six monthly visits to see our oral hygienist/therapist, Patricia to help your teeth and gums stay as healthy as possible.
What does a hygienist do?
Your dental hygienist is an essential member of your dental health team. A highly-trained dental professional, your hygienist looks after the general maintenance of your mouth, teeth and gums, including:
- examinations
- scale and cleans
- x-rays
- assessment and treatment of gum disease
- preventive dentistry
Oral hygiene at home
There are many things that you can do yourself for a life-long healthy smile and great oral hygiene. Here are our recommendations:
- Brush your teeth twice a day, after breakfast and before going to bed
- Use fluoride toothpaste
- Clean between your teeth with interdental brushes or floss, once a day
- See your dentist for regular check-ups so that any early problems can be treated before major, expensive treatments are needed
- Don’t snack before bedtime. Food left on the teeth overnight is more likely to cause cavities
- Avoid foods and drinks that are high in sugar and acids, especially soft drinks, sweet cereals, desserts, sticky sugary foods and excessive fruit juices
Why is oral hygiene important?
If you look after your oral hygiene you can help avoid problems such as:
- tooth decay
- gum disease
- serious problems with your general health
Tooth decay (caries)
Tooth decay is the damage that is done when certain bacteria that occur naturally in your mouth create acid that erodes your tooth. These bacteria live off sugar in our diet and can instantly break it down to form an acid. It is this acid that damages tooth structure. Dental caries can result in sensitivity to sweets and cold, pain, infection and even loss of teeth.
Regular visits to your hygienist and dentist can help avoid this and prevent damage from decay before further treatment is needed. Regular fluoride treatments help reverse early dental decay and strengthen teeth.
Gum disease
The hygienist is the best person to assist you in preventing and treating gum disease.
Refer to Gum Disease under services, for further information.
Healthy mouth, healthy body
There is a link between good oral hygiene and other health factors. Early detection of mouth cancer, infections and diseases of oral mucosa (the soft lining of the mouth) and nutritional deficiencies will lead to timely management and a healthy body.
You dentist can detect mouth cancer while it is still treatable. The health of your teeth and gums can also reduce the risk of suffering a stroke, heart disease, and oral cancer.
Make an appointment today.
