Good dental hygiene and oral care habits are important at any age. You might find yourself wondering if your dental routine needs some tweaking, or if certain life changes have also caused changes in your mouth. Whether you have all of your original teeth, some of them or a full set of dentures, diligently caring for your mouth is just as important when you get older as it was when you were a kid.

We have two experienced dental hygienists in our dental team. They play a pivotal role in our practice, advising patients on oral hygiene and the prevention of dental problems. We recommend patients visit the dental hygienist every six months for oral care.

Gum disease starts as gingivitis, which is the inflammation of the soft gum tissues supporting teethattached to the jawbone. As the gingivitis progresses, periodontal disease develops in the underlying oral tissues.

Individuals may not notice symptoms of periodontal disease until it is quite advanced. Visits to the dental hygienist help identify gum inflammation and oral disease for treatment.

Bad breath is also called “halitosis” and is quite common. Those with bad breath may not realise they have the condition, but others they interact with may be aware of it. Our dental hygienists provide advice about bad breath, the causes and how to ensure fresh breath.

Poor Oral Care: Improper teeth cleaning, flossing or mouth rinsing may lead to excess bacterial growth, causing bad breath.

Smoking: Smoking causes dry mouth with tar and nicotine build-up in the mouth, which accentuates bad breath and discolours or stains teeth.

Diet: Certain food substances cause transient bad breath, such as garlic. Mouth rinses and mints help to remove the odour. Food debris trapped between teeth may cause smelly breath and be harmful to health.