Is a Dental Hygienist worth a visit???

amyb_2

Hello

I know there are a number of Dentist related threads; but in can’t find the answer or any discussion re my question.

When I went to the Dentist last week; he advised me to book in for a hygienist appointment. A little worried I asked if there was anything wrong with my teeth – and he advised no, just he advises patients to visit the hygienist for a clean and because they will advise me on the best way to clean my teeth?

I wasn’t aware my teeth were dirty? The Dentist gave me a quick scale and polish but my teeth look and feel white and clean.

And is it not a little insulting to suggest I need to be taught how to brush/clean my teeth? I’m an intelligent 30yr old woman surely I’ve learnt how to by now? And TB Hi must be doing OK as so far have never had or required any dental treatment (no removals, fillings or anything)

I haven’t made the appointment so far; and it got me thinking about whether I need to or not.

I don’t have an issue with the cost (£50 for 30mins), but find it so hard to make time for appointments and would rather not go if it isn’t essential.

crazyguy

I go to them as they clean your teeth better than you can ! normaly every 3 months or so !

amyb_2

crazyguy wrote: »

I go to them as they clean your teeth better than you can ! normaly every 3 months or so !

Every three months? Jeez.
I had to take a days holiday to take my dentist appointment? Don't fancy wasting even more days to go to the H?

I feel i brush / floss / mouthwash my teeth well so i might not bother if its just to clean your teeth??

Also not sure i could take 20mins of someones gloved hand in my mouth - 5 mins in the dentist chair makes me gag as it is.

crazyguy

I hate them to they are like sadists when it comes to doing this job, but I do smoke and drink lots of coffee so thats probably why I need 3-4 visits a year !

brook2jack

90% of people do not brush or floss properly.
Over 90% of people will have some inflammation in their gums normally shows as gums bleeding on brushing/flossing.
Most people in this country will lose their teeth not because of decay but because of gum disease.
Mouthwash does nothing to prevent gum disease, occaisionally specific types of gum problems will need it for a short while
Gum disease takes years to develop and is mostly painless and not noticed by a patient until their teeth feel loose !
A good hygienist should spend alot of their time educating people in the correct way to brush,floss and use tepe brushes.

For many people a visit to the hygienist is not necessarily a treament it is a preventative measure to head off trouble in the future.

brook2jack

crazyguy wrote: »

I hate them to they are like sadists when it comes to doing this job, but I do smoke and drink lots of coffee so thats probably why I need 3-4 visits a year !

The biggest factor in gum disease is smoking. It stops the blood supply to the gums and damps down the inflammatory response allowing gum disease to run unchecked. Stop the smoking and you'll save the money on your ciggies,the stain on your teeth and the health of yourself and your mouth.

crazyguy

I need some will power I suppose have tried and failed miserably in the past !

McKneff

I wish I had had brook2jacks advice 20 years ago, I go to the dentist every six months, naively thought I was brushing my teeth dilligently and correctly, twice a day, floss, mouth wash,

But, smoker, tea drinker, it was a bit of a shock to the system last year when I had to have 6 top teeth out, having already had 2 extractions the year before and a bloody great plastic denture put in.

Take his advice, along with your own dentist and they will stay just as healthy and white as they are now.

Theres a poem, I Wish Id Looked After me Teeth, google it and read it.

brook2jack

McKneff wrote: »

But, smoker, tea drinker, it was a bit of a shock to the system last year when I had to have 6 top teeth out, having already had 2 extractions the year before and a bloody great plastic denture put in.

Tea drinker (so long as it's without sugar) is good. Tea is an excellent source of fluoride and antioxidants.

Smoking is the coffin for teeth and gums.

McKneff

The trouble is B2J, born in an era when smoking was just done, (about 60 years ago):D

I started smoking at about 14, I remember mum saying to me
'Its bad for your lungs' No one ever said that it was bad for everything, bones, circulation, teeth, etc. etc. etc. But then again we were so ignorant of these things that I doubt even they thought about it.

And when you think about it, people just 40 years ago people were just wandering into shops, yes even food shops with a fag in their hands, hard to believe nowadays.

sa_06

McKneff wrote: »

And when you think about it, people just 40 years ago people were just wandering into shops, yes even food shops with a fag in their hands, hard to believe nowadays.

It's hard to believe just a few years ago you could walk into most restaurants and smoke, and it would have been exceptional to wonder into most of them in a totally smoke-free environment. So much better now, esp. for employees!