August 21, 2025
Maintaining a healthy smile involves more than just regular brushing and flossing at home. Dental hygienists play a pivotal role in preserving oral health, working alongside dentists to prevent dental problems before they become more serious.
Recent data highlights a concerning trend in dental care across the UK. As of early 2025, approximately 75% of UK adults are not regularly visiting a dentist, meaning many are missing the advised check-ups. This equates to around 41 million people not adhering to optimal oral health practices.
This decline in dental visits can lead to untreated dental issues, including early-stage gum disease, cavities, and other oral health complications. Dental hygienists play a crucial role in preventing these problems by keeping teeth clean and assessing gum health regularly. By catching issues early, hygienists can prevent minor concerns from escalating into more serious conditions.
For patients who want to keep their smiles healthy, regular dental hygiene appointments at Freshdental are one of the most effective ways to prevent long-term problems.
A dental hygienist is a registered dental professional specialising in preventive oral care. Their work focuses on keeping teeth and gums healthy, preventing disease, and educating patients about effective oral hygiene practices.
A standard appointment with a dental hygienist typically includes:
Initial Examination
The hygienist visually inspects the teeth, gums, and mouth for signs of issues.
Oral Cancer Screening
Early detection is key, and hygienists perform visual checks to spot any suspicious tissue changes.
Basic Periodontal Examination (BPE)
During a BPE, your dental hygienist examines the health of your gums and the supporting structures around each tooth. Using a specialised probe, they measure the depth of the gum pockets—the spaces between your teeth and gums—to identify any signs of gum disease. The mouth is divided into six sections, or sextants (upper right, upper front, upper left, lower right, lower front, lower left), and each sextant is scored based on the findings:
- Score 0: Healthy gums with no pockets deeper than 3.5mm, no calculus, and no bleeding.
- Score 1: No pockets deeper than 3.5mm, no calculus, but some bleeding on probing.
- Score 2: No pockets over 3.5mm, but some calculus or plaque deposits present.
- Score 3: Pockets measuring 3.5mm–5.5mm, indicating early to moderate gum disease.
- Score 4: Pockets deeper than 5.5mm, suggesting more advanced gum disease that may require specialist treatment.
Cleaning
Calculus (tartar) and plaque are carefully removed using ultrasonic or hand scalers to ensure your teeth and gums remain healthy. Following this, Airflow technology is often used to enhance the cleaning process. Airflow is a powerful dental hygiene treatment that uses a combination of jet water, air, and a fine sodium bicarbonate powder to remove surface stains, soft deposits, and plaque from hard-to-reach areas.
Personalised Advice
Hygienists provide guidance on brushing, flossing, diet, and lifestyle habits to maintain oral health. ou can also learn more about tooth-coloured fillings or other preventive treatments that help keep your smile strong.
Treatment Planning
For patients with advanced gum disease, hygienists may recommend follow-up visits, deeper cleaning procedures, or antimicrobial therapy, which are then reviewed and overseen by our dentist to ensure comprehensive care.
A professional hygiene appointment is a preventive investment in your long-term oral health. The cost of dental hygiene cleaning can vary depending on the treatment required. To know more about the detailed cost of dental hygiene cleaning, contact Freshdental in Bayswater today and speak with our team.
Some patients worry about discomfort during a dental cleaning. If gums are healthy, cleaning is generally painless. However, early gum disease can make gums inflamed and sensitive, leading to temporary discomfort during scaling and polishing.
Regular hygiene visits help maintain gum health, reducing the need for deep cleaning and minimising discomfort. Consistent care ensures teeth remain clean and gums stay strong, preventing more invasive treatments later.
Gum disease is primarily caused by plaque buildup, which harbours bacteria that irritate the gums and can weaken the structures supporting your teeth. The only effective treatment is professional cleaning by a hygienist or dentist. Advanced gum disease may require specialised procedures that cannot be managed at home.
Left untreated, severe gum disease can contribute to systemic health issues. Research has linked periodontal disease to conditions such as endocarditis, a rare but potentially serious heart infection. While gum disease itself is not fatal, managing it is crucial for overall health.
Patients looking for more preventive support often combine hygiene visits with general check-ups to maintain long-term oral health.
At Freshdental in Bayswater, our hygienists do more than clean teeth. They:
For many patients, combining hygiene visits with treatments such as teeth whitening or composite bonding delivers both health and cosmetic benefits.
1. What is the main role of a dental hygienist?
A dental hygienist focuses on preventing oral health problems by keeping your teeth and gums clean and healthy. They remove plaque and tartar, assess gum health, provide personalised advice on oral hygiene, and help detect early signs of conditions such as gum disease or tooth decay.
2. What is dental cleaning?
Dental cleaning is a professional procedure carried out by a hygienist to remove plaque, tartar, and surface stains from your teeth. It helps maintain healthy gums, prevents cavities, and contributes to a brighter, cleaner smile. This process often includes a Basic Periodontal Examination (BPE) to check gum health.
3. How painful is dental cleaning?
For most patients with healthy gums, dental cleaning is generally comfortable and causes minimal discomfort. Some sensitivity may occur if gum inflammation or plaque buildup is present, but hygienists use gentle techniques to ensure the procedure is as pain-free as possible.
4. How often should teeth be cleaned by a hygienist?
It is generally recommended to visit a dental hygienist every six months. However, the frequency may vary depending on your oral health, lifestyle, and risk of gum disease. Your hygienist at Freshdental in Bayswater will advise a schedule tailored to your individual needs.
Visiting a dental hygienist is an important step toward long-term oral health. Routine hygiene appointments help maintain healthy teeth and gums, prevent disease, and support overall wellbeing.
Contact us today to schedule your appointment and keep your smile in top condition.
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