Gum disease is where your gums are red and swollen. Symptoms include bleeding gums, bad breath, loose teeth, and swollen gums. The risk of gum disease increases with age:

47% of adults aged 30 years and older have gum disease.

70% of adults 65 years and older have periodontal/gum disease.

Gum disease is caused by a build-up of plaque on the teeth. Plaque is a sticky substance that contains bacteria. Some bacteria are harmless, but some are harmful. It can only be removed by brushing and flossing, and hardened bacteria (tartar) can only be removed by seeing a dental professional such as a hygienist

1. Bleeding gums. People often think this is normal but it is almost always a sign of gum disease.

2. Loose teeth

3. Gum recession (longer teeth). This often results in increased tooth sensitivity.

4. Bad tastes

5. Bad breath

6. Drifting teeth

Gum disease can be prevented by maintaining good oral hygiene and visiting your dentist regularly for check-ups, as well as seeing your hygienist for cleaning, scaling, and polishing.

The hygienist offers professional teeth cleaning, also known as deep cleaning of your gums. They remove plaque or tartar buildup that cannot be reached by brushing, perform a clean and polish to remove superficial stains, and provide personalized advice on maintaining good dental health at home.

The frequency of visits varies from person to person based on individual needs. Your dentist and hygienist will recommend the right interval based on your clinical needs. If you are starting a complex treatment such as dental implants, your dentist may also recommend seeing a hygienist for a thorough cleaning beforehand.

If you have been diagnosed with advanced gum disease, you will need to see both a hygienist and a periodontist. Ask your dentist for more advice on this.

We offer hygienist appointments for our patients, and our hygienist is available through direct access. This means you don’t need to be a patient of our practice to see our hygienist. You can book directly for a cleaning, and the hygienist will focus on your gum health and teeth polishing. Please note, the hygienist won’t perform dental checks or diagnose conditions, so regular check-ups with a dentist are still necessary. The appointment lasts 25 to 30 minutes and costs £67.50.

We offer air polishing to remove stains and bring a brighter, shinier smile. Air polishing is an amazing system which works very well on removing coffee/tea/smoking stains from teeth. It is also very good for cleaning in between crocked teeth.

Our hygienist is licensed for direct access, meaning you don’t need a referral from a dentist. If you want treatment for gum disease or a clean and polish, you can book directly with our hygienist. Keep in mind, however, that a hygienist cannot diagnose or treat other dental conditions, such as cavities or oral cancer, which is why regular check-ups with a dentist are important.