Dental Hygienist

What is dental hygiene?

Dental hygiene is all about taking care of your teeth and gums. Good dental hygiene is essential for the ability to chew food, speak properly, and to prevent dental problems before they arise. Having a healthy smile also boosts your appearance and self-confidence.

Maintaining good dental hygiene includes several important steps:

• Brushing twice daily to remove plaque and prevent decay
• Flossing at least once each day
• Eating a healthy diet with nutrients needed for strong teeth, like calcium and vitamin D
• Limiting sugary foods that cause tooth decay
• Getting a checkup every six months for a thorough dental cleaning

The way that you brush is also important. Improper brushing either doesn’t help much or could even cause problems. For example, brushing too hard can damage the gums, while a brief, light brushing won’t do much good in terms of keeping your teeth clean.

Brush for 2-3 minutes for optimal oral hygiene, using short strokes and a scrubbing motion, and make sure that you’re reaching each part of every tooth. If you have any questions about your brushing technique, a dental hygienist will help when you come into Heritage Dental for a routine cleaning.

What services does a dental hygienist provide?

When you visit Heritage Dental, the first person you’ll see is a dental hygienist, who is specially trained to provide these services:

• Examining your teeth for signs of decay, chips, cracks, and enamel erosion
• Examining your gums for signs of infection, swelling, recession, and sores
• Providing a thorough dental cleaning to remove all plaque and tartar
• Taking X-rays of your mouth
• Reviewing your medical history
• Screening for oral cancer
• Applying sealants and fluoride treatments
• Instructing you about proper brushing and flossing techniques
• Teaching you about good nutrition
• Answering your questions about dental care

Why should I visit a dentist for a dental cleaning and regular dental care?

Dr. Ming is dedicated to offering his patients at Heritage Dental the most advanced dental care available, and some of the latest technologies make your dental checkup a lot easier. He offers digital X-rays, which produce rapid results and enhanced images so you can see where problems exist. Digital X-rays also make it easy to compare images before and after treatment.

The dental hygienists at Heritage Dental use state-of-the-art equipment to find small areas of hidden decay and make sure that you can reach optimal oral health.

A skilled dental team can help you avoid future problems with your oral health and preventable trips to the dentist! Call or schedule your appointment with a hygienist at Heritage Dental online today.