Anyone who has ever paid for a dental procedure will know how pricey it can be. If we look at how this happens it is easy to see that maintaining a good oral hygiene regime can prevent tooth decay and gum disease which can result in costly time in the dental chair.

But what exactly is going on...

It all begins with the billion or so bacterial cells inhabiting your entire digestive system, including your mouth. This is the friendly bacteria keeping you healthy by aiding digestion and supporting your immune system. Unfortunately, this same bacterium can also be very unfriendly and harmful if it is allowed to grow and mature on your teeth and gums. Hence, it is important to keep this bacterium in check and limit it’s growth.

Looking closely at these bacteria cells we discover these simple single cell microbes are a surprisingly intelligent lifeform that can survive, multiply, and join together to form a layer which we call biofilm on the teeth and gums. They have figured out a way for this biofilm to be nearly invisible to your mouth's cleansing saliva and become glued to your teeth and gum lines.

When you sleep at night your salivary flow and the cleansing movement of your tongue slows allowing the clever bacteria cells to quietly have a reproductive party in your mouth. The party will be especially festive if you consume a lot of sugary foods and have not carefully brushed along the gum-lines before bedtime. Throughout your sleep this bacteria party is resulting in strong acid production which gradually dissolves tooth enamel causing cavities.

While all this is happening some of the bacteria cells are able to survive without oxygen and burrow into your gums. I call this stronger bacterium the ravers. Once through, they begin to degrade the soft tissue and the bone surrounding the roots of your teeth. As this becomes chronic the teeth eventually loosen over time and are lost. As a hygienist I find tooth loss particularly saddening. Once considered part of the body's natural ageing process, we now know it can be avoided with proper care and we can all enjoy our full set of healthy teeth well into old age.

It is worth remembering you are a whole lot more intelligent than any form of bacteria and can easily close down their party. A good oral hygiene regime together with regular visits to the hygienist helps to control the levels of bacteria growth on your teeth and gums limiting the chance of tooth decay and gum disease.

During your hygienist visit I always gently check your gum line for any build-up of biofilm which might be an early sign of potential tooth loss. If the biofilm layer is relatively superficial I can proceed with a routine scaling and help you find more effective ways of reaching tricky areas of your mouth. If the build-up of biofilm is deeper inside your gums I become more concerned and will discuss with you how we can work together to reverse the degradation process and help you keep your teeth for as long as possible. Remember, prevention is the best motto!

Throughout my 22 years working as a dental hygienist I have seen how my patients who are attentive to their teeth cleaning and visit me regularly have far healthier teeth and gums. With a healthier mouth, they end up saving themselves quite a lot of money at the dentist. That money can be spent on going to their own parties.

Maryam Abrishami. RDH