Hygiene

Plaque that isn’t removed can harden into tartar, which sits along the gum line and can only be removed professionally. Regular cleaning helps keep gums healthy and makes it easier to look after your teeth between visits.

• Scale and polish: tartar and plaque are removed from around the teeth, then the surfaces are polished
• Air polish: a fine jet of powder, air and water lifts staining and plaque from tooth surfaces

Gum disease usually starts quietly. When plaque builds up along the gum line, the gums can become red, swollen and prone to bleeding. This early stage, gingivitis, is very common and can usually be reversed with good cleaning at home and professional help.

If it isn’t looked after, gingivitis can develop in some people into periodontitis, which affects the tissues that support the teeth. That’s why it’s worth catching early: with regular hygiene visits and good cleaning at home, gums can usually be kept healthy.

Smoking, diabetes, a family history of gum disease and hormonal changes such as pregnancy can all make gum disease more likely. Signs worth mentioning to us include:

• Gums that bleed when you brush or clean between your teeth
• Red, swollen or tender gums
• Bad breath or a bad taste that doesn’t go away
• Gums shrinking back from your teeth, or teeth that feel loose

We’ll ask how your gums feel, whether you notice any bleeding when you brush and about your routine at home. Then we’ll look at your teeth and gums before cleaning, and explain anything we notice.

Tartar and plaque are removed from your teeth, especially along the gum line and between teeth, where deposits build up. You may feel scraping, pressure or a gentle vibration, and water rinses the area as we work. Polishing then leaves smooth surfaces that plaque finds harder to cling to.

An air polish is good at reaching staining in awkward places, such as between crowded teeth, but hardened tartar may still need removing by scaling. Tell us if you have a breathing condition such as asthma, or follow a low-salt diet, as some polishing powders aren’t suitable for everyone.

Afterwards, your gums may feel a little tender for a day or two, and your teeth may feel sensitive to cold for a short while. This soon settles.

A professional clean helps, but what you do every day makes the biggest difference between visits:

• Brush twice a day for about two minutes, last thing at night and at one other time, angling the bristles towards the gum line
• Use a fluoride toothpaste: for adults, one with 1,350 to 1,500 ppm fluoride (check the tube)
• Spit out the toothpaste after brushing, but don’t rinse, so the fluoride keeps working
• Clean between your teeth once a day with interdental brushes or floss. We can show you which brush sizes fit
• If your gums bleed when you start cleaning between your teeth, keep going gently. It often settles within a week or two as the gums become healthier
• Replace your toothbrush or brush head every three months
• Keep sugary food and drinks to mealtimes

There’s no fixed rule. At our practice in Pontcanna, Cardiff, we’ll recommend how often to come back based on the health of your gums and how quickly tartar builds up. For some people that means every three months; for others, every six months or longer.

You may be advised to come more often for a while if you have gum disease, smoke or have diabetes, or find some areas hard to clean, such as around crowns or implants.