When oral bacteria get out of control

Avoiding and treating gum disease problems at our Burton dental practice.

Gingival bacteria are ‘ever present’ in our mouths, along with approximately seventy other types of bacteria. Kept under control with good oral care including brushing, flossing and regular, professional dental care, these bacteria present few problems. Where oral care is neglected though, and the number of bacteria increases, the likelihood is that gingivitis, and possibly periodontitis, may follow.

At Mike Allen’s Dental Practice, we not only inspect our patient’s teeth, but also their gums. We check for possible symptoms of gum disease, including redness and any recession that may be taking place. Some symptoms, such as spitting blood after cleaning your teeth, are more easily noticed by you, the patient, and we ask you to report anything unexpected like this.

Dental hygienist

We currently have two dental hygienists working at our Burton dental practice and if you are not already seeing them regularly, we strongly recommend to do so. This should not be seen as an ‘add on’ in dental care, but an essential part of it. Appointments with the hygienist give you the opportunity to discuss all aspects of your oral health care; they will examine your gum health and may make recommendations as to how you can improve your own regimen. Demonstrating how to use dental floss correctly, for example, can make a big difference to the health of your mouth. Lifestyle choices and diet may also be discussed as part of our holistic approach.

Scale and polish

An important aspect of a dental hygienist visit is the removal of hardened bacterial deposits from the teeth and gum line. These deposits, known as tartar, are almost impossible to remove using a toothbrush or dental floss, but our team are equipped with special tools to do this, leaving your teeth, gums and mouth in a healthier and fresher condition.

Generally, this procedure should be carried out at six monthly intervals to help maintain a healthy mouth, but some of our Burton patients opt to have this done more regularly. They appreciate how clean it leaves their mouth feeling and, as a side benefit, how it also removes surface staining and thereby improves the appearance of their teeth.

Your gum health is just as important as the health of your teeth, and indeed, the two are interlinked. If you are currently not seeing a hygienist on a regular basis, why not arrange an appointment with our team to discover the many benefits?

Hygienist appointments at Mike Allen’s Dental Practice can be booked by calling our Burton dental practice on 01283 845 345.