Evolve Dentistry | Dentist in Portishead, Somerset

24 Harbour Road Portishead BS20 7AL

24 Harbour Road Portishead BS20 7AL

Dental hygiene – healthy gums

A big part of keeping your mouth, teeth and gums healthy is through effective brushing and flossing. As well as professionally cleaning your teeth and gums, our dental hygiene team will advise you on the best way to brush and floss your teeth, and advise you on other ways to improve the appearance of your teeth, such as limiting smoking, consumption of tea, coffee and red wine.

Why should I see a hygienist for dental hygiene?

Simple, they will save your teeth!
Regular visits to a good dental hygienist in Portishead will reduce the risk of gum disease, tooth decay and dental plaque build-up. So much so, that hygienists can often pick up the very earliest signs of tooth decay, which might mean you wouldn’t end up with a filling.

Your general health also depends a lot on eating a healthy balanced diet. Eating and drinking habits affect the health of your teeth and mouth. Sugar has recently come back into the headlines for having a significant negative impact on health. Eating and drinking foods and liquids with high sugar content in combination with the presence plaque, a soft sticky substance that consists of bacteria that feed on these sugars, can lead to tooth decay.

The bacteria produce acid waste that attacks the teeth, resulting in tooth erosion and tooth decay. If plaque is not removed, it hardens and becomes tartar, which makes the teeth feel rough and can be visible in the mouth, making any smile unsightly. It also creates an easier surface for the plaque to stick to, making the problem even worse. Only a hygienist can remove tartar once it starts to build up, but with good home oral hygiene, you can significantly reduce or prevent the build-up of tartar.


We know that gum disease is considered to be a lifestyle disease and poor gum health can increase your risk of heart, diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease, so we want your gums to be as healthy as possible to ensure that your general health is as good as possible.

How to avoid tooth decay and gum disease

Our dental hygienists in our Portishead dental practice near Bristol will not only look after your dental health, but advise you on how to brush your teeth and use interdental brushes correctly so that you can maintain your own good dental hygiene at home, this will help you avoid tooth decay and gum disease.

This is what our hygienist says:

“Place the bristles of the brush gently at the join between your teeth and gums, with the bristles pointing towards your gums, then brush in small circular movements.

Ensure you brush all around every tooth making sure you can feel the gentle pressure of the brush on your gums too. Don’t apply too much pressure as this may damage your gums, you are looking to clean your teeth and massage your gums.


After brushing, spit out the toothpaste but don’t rinse. The effect of the fluoride will work much better if it is left on the teeth.

Think of your mouth in four separate sections: top left, top right, bottom left and bottom right spending 30 seconds on each section. This will ensure you spend the recommended 2 minutes brushing your teeth.

Change your toothbrush every 3 months minimum this will help prevent gum disease and ensure your brush is working properly. If the bristles bend out of shape, replace your brush immediately. Also, purchase a toothbrush with a small head, to make sure that every tooth is cleaned.”

Want to know more about how to look after your teeth properly? Read our guide here.

Read our CQC report.

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Evolve Dentistry | Dentist in Portishead, Somerset

24 Harbour Road Portishead BS20 7AL

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