What is dental hygiene and air polishing?
A visit to the hygienist is crucial to the maintenance of a healthy mouth. The hygienist will examine the gums and the tissues supporting the teeth and advise you on the best way how to look after them. They will then usually remove anything that has built up on the teeth which is preventing you from keeping them clean with your routine daily care. This is done using a combination of ultrasonic and hand scaling and airflow polishing. Airflow is a way of giving you dramatically cleaner teeth using a combination of water jet, air and sodium bicarbonate.
Who is it for?
If you have any teeth at all you should see the hygienist.
How does Airflow work?
A nozzle directs a fast jet of powder and warm water over the surfaces of the teeth and into the hard to reach areas, removing stains and deposits which shouldn’t be there along with the germs (plaque) which cause gum disease.
What are the benefits of Airflow?
Patients generally find it much more comfortable than the conventional cleaning but in fact it isn’t just more comfortable but it is also more effective. The germs that live in your mouth form a tightknit community that look after one another. This is called a biofilm. Despite what the adverts suggest, swishing with mouthwash does not blast them all away. It needs something to disrupt that cosy community of bugs and that’s what airflow does in a gentle and effective way as well as removing the stains that have locked onto the tooth surface.
It can also reach into spaces under the edge of the gum where periodontal disease has caused the attachment of gum to tooth to break down. It is in these pockets that the most destructive germs can live.
If you suffer from sensitivity the sodium bicarbonate can also block up the openings in the tooth surface that cause the sensitivity.
How long does it take?
It normally takes up to 30 minutes to complete the clean of your mouth, including airflow and coaching and advice on how to keep your mouth in A1 condition.
How much does it cost?
A routine visit to the hygienist costs £115 but is generally included in your membership if you are a Dental Subscriber.
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Frequently asked questions
Do you have to use a scaler as well?
Are there any reasons why I can’t have it done?
Does it damage the teeth?