In keeping with our ethos, we believe a beautiful smile is a healthy smile. For teeth that dazzle from the inside out, our dental hygienists provide professional, high-quality dental hygiene treatments.
What is a Dental Hygienist?
The job of a dental hygienist is to prevent and treat common dental issues like decay and plaque buildup. Alongside helping patients take care of their oral health, dental hygienists also provide valuable advice. This includes guidance on how patients can take care of their teeth and gums to prevent the development of gum disease.
Why Do I Need to See a Dental Hygienist?
It is possible to visit the dental hygienist without a referral. You may also have been prescribed dental hygiene treatment as part of a preventative treatment plan.
Did you know that vigorous brushing in jagged motions can wear away the teeth and gums and lead to plaque buildup? It might seem frivolous to be receiving advice on how to brush your teeth as an adult, however, there are so many common mistakes that often go unnoticed until it’s too late.
Our dedicated team of private dental hygienists in Chatham can prevent gum disease, and offer treatment when you need it most. When you choose us, you’ll be given the skills and training you need to maintain healthy teeth and gums over a lifetime.
What Can I Expect From a Hygienist Appointment?
As soon as you step foot into our Dental Practice, you’ll be welcomed by a friendly member of our front-of-house team. They will log your arrival and guide you to our waiting room.
Our waiting area is designed to encourage peace and relaxation while you wait to be called in for your consultation.
During your initial appointment, we will make sure that you are completely comfortable with our proposed treatment plan before beginning the session. Dental hygiene treatment involves thorough tooth cleaning, removing plaque and tartar, as well as stubborn stains.
The primary focus of our practice is to prevent, treat, and stabilise gum disease. You will receive easy-to-follow oral hygiene instructions during your time visiting one of our dental hygienists to help you maintain good oral hygiene at home.
Benefits of Visiting a Dental Hygienist
Visiting a dental hygienist will provide you with vital care to help you maintain healthy teeth and gums. Some major benefits linked to undergoing dental cleaning include:
Prevention of Gum Disease
During your appointment, your dental hygienist will assist you in maintaining excellent gum health. Gum disease is irreversible, but the early signs of the condition can be treated in order to prevent further damage. Therefore, it’s crucial that you contact your dentist as soon as you experience any gum-related issues.
Increased confidence
Your dental hygienist will perform a deep clean, helping you to achieve a natural result. They will also advise you on how to maintain your smile at home, preventing ongoing issues, so you can enjoy your natural smile for longer.
No more bad breath
Do you spend your days paranoid about bad breath? Visiting a dental hygienist on a regular basis will ensure that your breath stays minty fresh all day long.
The deep clean provided by a hygienist simply cannot be replicated at home. That’s why we recommend paying us a visit frequently in order to keep your teeth squeaky clean and your breath smelling fresh.
Signs You Need to See a Dental Hygienist
Prevention is key when it comes to maintaining good oral health. Here are some common signs to look out for when considering if it could be time to book an appointment with a private dental hygienist:
Bleeding or swollen gums
Bad breath
Discoloured teeth
Increased tooth sensitivity
Dry mouth
Jaw pain
Headaches
Visible tartar on teeth
If you can relate to any of these symptoms, please do get in touch. Book an appointment with one of our dedicated dental hygienists today to receive the care you need as soon as possible.
What Dental Hygiene Treatments Are on Offer?
At Smil, we’re pleased to offer our clients professional, thorough dental cleaning services. At your hygienist appointment, we will start by scaling your teeth and removing plaque and tartar buildup. We will then perform a deep clean and polish, removing superficial stains and restoring your natural smile.
Finally, we can also provide expert advice unique to your specific needs. This may include information on how to maintain your smile at home, from cleaning tips to product recommendations. We are also more than happy to share guidance on how to improve your diet in order to prevent further decay, proposing additional treatment if necessary.
Top Tips For Brushing Your Teeth
Use the right brush
Your toothbrush should have soft bristles that can bend and reach every spot in your mouth. The size of the head should correlate with the size of your mouth. If you have a small mouth, the head of your toothbrush should be small also in order to fit in hard-to-reach areas.
Replace your toothbrush
Over time, bacteria will grow on your toothbrush, making it significantly less effective. Replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months to ensure your teeth and gums remain healthy.
Don’t brush after eating
It might seem like the most logical thing to do, but brushing your teeth straight after eating isn’t recommended, as this can damage your enamel. Instead, wait at least 30 minutes after eating to brush your teeth to ensure your brushing isn’t counterproductive.
Be gentle
One of the biggest pieces of advice we can give you when brushing your teeth is to be gentle. Vigorous brushing can cause bleeding and irritation, leading to an array of dental issues over time. If the bristles on your toothbrush look like they’ve done a few laps around the toilet bowl, you’re probably brushing too hard. Take your time and give your teeth the TLC they deserve.
How Often Should I Visit a Dental Hygienist?
How often a person should visit a dental hygienist will differ from case to case. However, as a general rule of thumb, we recommend scheduling a dental hygiene treatment once every 6 months to maintain healthy teeth and gums.
How Much Does it Cost?
At Smil, a session with one of our experienced private dental hygienists is priced at £69.
FAQs
Which type of toothpaste should I use?
Adults should use a toothpaste containing at least 1,350 ppm fluoride.
Fluoride is known to strengthen your teeth and prevent decay, making it a crucial ingredient in the toothpaste you choose to use.
What can I do to make my teeth look whiter?
If you want to restore the natural colour of your teeth, visiting a dental hygienist is the easiest way to achieve a natural result.
During your consultation, the hygienist will polish your teeth, removing surface stains and restoring your smile to its former glory.
Want to go one step further? At Smil, we’re pleased to offer our clients the latest Dental Whitening Treatments, including Boutique Whitening. If you’d like to find out more about our professional teeth whitening services, please do get in touch.
Does it hurt to get a scale and polish?
No, undergoing a routine scale a polish won’t hurt. You might feel some unusual sensations like scraping and vibrating, however, it should never cause pain.
Will the treatment hurt, and will my gums bleed?
A visit to the dental hygienist should never hurt. In most cases, the reason for your visit to the hygienist will probably be what’s causing you pain.
Inflammation of the gums and tooth decay can lead to increased sensitivity, which can therefore cause discomfort during your dental cleaning treatment.
Can My Dental Hygienist Detect Serious Health Problems?
The primary role of a dental hygienist is to prevent serious health problems. During your consultation with our private dental hygienist, they will check for signs of gum disease, periodontitis, infection, and oral cancer.
Do I Have to See My Dentist Before My Dental Hygiene Appointment?
In most cases, your dentist will refer you to the hygienist after noticing cause for concern. However, it is possible to book a consultation with a dental hygienist without having seen your dentist beforehand.
If you’re concerned about your oral health and would like to find out more about what our dental hygienists can do for you, please do get in touch.
Neil is a fantastic friendly dentist. I’ve been seeing him for over 25 years now and he’s always been really accommodating to my needs. My fitted veneers lasted years beyond what was expected and so I trusted Neil to do them again for me for my upcoming trip to the USA; to which he fitted me into his busy schedule on short notice. I even travelled half way across the country to have them fitted professionally because I know he will always do a great job. I also had some composite bonding work and whitening done to which has really improved my smile greatly. Smil is a very accommodating place and all the staff and dental assistants there are very kind and helpful. Overall I know I am in safe hands with Neil and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend anyone to him. Thanks Neil and the Smil team!
I recently joined Smil following a recommendation from a friend after struggling to register with a NHS dentist. I’m not one for the dentist and have always been super anxious when visiting but these guys have been amazing, after just a few visits I already feel more comfortable and confident about the whole thing. The building is super clean and the staff are fantastic, but I must give a special mention to Neil and Rosie, both visits Rosie has been great in reassuring me as I’ve been so nervous which in return has helped me stay calm, Neil has been fantastic and explains everything that will be happening and has provided me with great advice also, I have now signed up to the monthly plan which shows just how happy I am at this dentist! Would recommend to everyone ☺️
Such a beautiful, clean practice. Neil is a fantastic dentist who makes you feel very welcome and comfortable. The reception team are also just as lovely I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a new dentist! Thank you all so much for making my trip to the dentist nice and easy. :-)
This Practice is so impressive.From the decor and ambiance to the patient service and great dental care, its a great experience.The staff are friendly, welcoming and helpful, and the dentist is skilled and put my mind at ease immediately. I will only be using this practice from now on, for myself and my family and will be sharing my experience with everyone.There is great, safe parking too, being a bonus, unlike my previous dentist.Five out of Five for me :)
Just come back from a visit to Smil. I have to say this is the best dentist I have ever had. All the staff are friendly & helpful. The premises are clean & comfy. Neil, the dentist is great, friendly & efficient. Went out of his way to fit a crown for me. The hygienist , also great. Very thorough and gentle ( not always the way with hygienists.) Unfortunately I can only give 5 stars. Would give more if I could.
After months of following Smil's progress from the start through social media, today I finally got to visit them. Whilst the practice had looked great in photos, in real life it was breath taking! The spotless modern decor and relaxing ambiance were noticeable as I walked in. Charlotte at reception was very friendly and showed me around. I was impressed to see all the state-of-the-art technology, two intra oral scanners, the CBCT machine, and the newest toy of all.. the Blanc One whitening system. I have not even come across this before, very up to date and modern.
I went for composite bonding on my front teeth. Neil the surgeon was wonderful throughout the process, giving me the best advise and the best service throughout. Everybody kept in touch throughout the process and I felt very comfortable at all times. Great service would 100% recommend. I will be using Smil for all my check ups and cleans moving forward purely based on the service I received. Thank you all.
I’ve wanted to get my teeth sorted out for years but have always been nervous and apprehensive but Neil and all the girls were absolutely lovely and made me feel at ease straight away. I had veneers fitted and it really was completely pain free and the result was amazing. My teeth now look fantastic yet natural and I would not hesitate to recommend Smil to family, friends and anyone looking for a brilliant dentist.
Very modern and friendly dental practice. Dr Moonis and his team were very professional and caring. Such a lovely interior, calms you down. Well done and all the best.
