Most people see their twice yearly check up with the Dentist as their ‘Mouth MOT’ – almost on a par with having their car go through it’s MOT, and although this is an essential part of your regular health check, visiting the Hygienist is that one step further – more like the service element carried out on your car.
The Hygienist concentrates on gum health and prevention, and your gums can tell a lot about your general health. At dental school, we were always told that ‘the mouth is the mirror of the body’ and this is so true.
Many health issues can be picked up by signs that all is not well with your gums, and although we cannot diagnose certain conditions we can refer you to your GP, or other healthcare professional for further investigation.
Health problems such as Diabetes affects 3.8 million people here in the UK, with a further 549,000 currently undiagnosed.
Heart and Circulatory Disease affects a whopping 7 million people in the UK – being equal between men and women at 3.5 million each – and often the dental chair is the first place where signs of these common healthcare issues become apparent.
Your Hygienist will tailor your oral hygiene routine to help you get the best out of your twice daily regime in order to keep your gums in tip top condition.
Unhealthy gums are often a way for bacteria to get into the bloodstream, so modifying your existing routine will not only help you to improve your oral health, but also your overall general health.
We are currently developing a ‘traffic light system’ here at the practice to determine your overall risk of gum disease. You will be allocated a Red, Amber, or Green score which will take into account your propensity to gum health problems based on our initial findings, but with a little help and knowledge it may often be a chance for us to work together to improve your score, and ultimately, your oral and systemic health. 
So, next time you book your dental check up, consider booking a session with our Hygienist too – you might be surprised at what your gums say about you!
Julie Rosse, one80dental Hygienist
