Our Ladysmith dental hygienists reveal their tips for oral hygiene, preparing for your professional dental cleanings and preventing plaque and tartar buildup.
If you’re heading to your dental cleaning and check-up in Ladysmith soon, please read this first. At Ladysmith Smiles, our dental hygienists are usually the first smiling face you’ll see when you begin your dental appointment. And while they love to catch up with you to see how your last six months have been since your last appointment, you may be wondering what’s really going on inside their head while they perform your dental services. We wanted to give you a little glimpse into what your dental hygienist is really thinking during your appointment at Ladysmith Smiles. These are the top seven things that your dental hygienist wishes you knew!
1. We understand that you’re nervous to see us.
While being surrounded by teeth, sounds of drilling, and pokey objects all day might be totally natural for us, we know that’s not the case for our patients—actually most of our patients. We can often sense when a patient is feeling nervous about their dental visit, and we want you to know that it’s perfectly normal to feel this way. If you experience dental anxiety, you are not alone and we want you to tell us. While we strive to create a calm and supportive environment with all of our patients, there are other coping mechanisms and steps we can take to help ease your dental anxiety during your visit. As dental hygienists, we strive to be as gentle, thorough, and informative as possible. Throughout your dental hygiene appointment, we’ll explain what we’re doing step-by-step, and we’ll encourage you to ask questions or express any concerns. Your comfort is our priority, and together, we can make your experience as positive as possible at Ladysmith Smiles.
2. We aren’t judging.
We understand that some of your nerves for your upcoming dental hygiene appointment are due to the vulnerability you feel when opening up your mouth wide. Whether it’s been a while since your last visit to the dentist or not, you may be concerned that your dental hygienist is judging the state of your pearly whites—but that is not the case at Ladysmith Smiles! When we say, we’ve seen it all, we truly have. No matter what the condition or state of your smile is when you come in, our goal is to provide you with exceptional dental care that will inspire you to smile more in your day-to-day life. Please never be embarrassed during your dental cleanings; our Ladysmith dental hygienists are here to help, not judge.
3. Please floss and brush your teeth before your appointment.
Even if your dental visit is scheduled to be after lunch, we ask that you brush your teeth before getting in our dental operatories. Despite part of your dental hygiene appointment being a teeth cleaning, we prefer patients show up with brushed and flossed teeth. Why? As dental hygienists, we are trained to do the deep cleaning of what can’t be removed with your regular brushing. When you show up with lunch still in your teeth, this elongates your appointment as your dental hygienist will need to remove this before working on plaque and tartar buildup. And while mouthwash can be a nice addition to preparing for your cleaning it’s not a substitute for good old-fashioned brushing and flossing. We know it can be tempting to think that rinsing with mouthwash is enough to keep your mouth healthy, but it really doesn’t remove plaque or food particles like brushing and flossing can. Those two are essential for preventing cavities and gum disease. Think of mouthwash as more of a finishing touch—great for freshening your breath and helping with bacteria, but it can’t replace the thorough cleaning that comes from brushing and flossing.
FUN FACT: Did you know you should actually be flossing before you brush your teeth? A lot of our patients tend to do the opposite but if you can reverse the routine you’ll be much better off. Flossing before brushing loosens plaque and trapped food, while brushing afterward sweeps away these particles for a more thorough clean. This sequence also ensures that fluoride from toothpaste reaches between teeth, maximizing cavity protection.
4. We know if you haven’t been flossing.
First off, never be embarrassed by the state of your smile—we are here to help not judge! But as dental hygienists, it’s often pretty clear when a patient hasn’t been flossing regularly and we would be remiss if we didn’t mention it. You’d be surprised how many people skip this step and it’s our job to encourage and educate our patients on why they really shouldn’t! During cleanings, your Ladysmith dental hygienist can easily spot signs of plaque and tartar buildup between the teeth, where a toothbrush simply can’t reach. If we see swollen or bleeding gums, that’s a telltale sign that food particles and bacteria have been lingering, leading to gum irritation. When patients mention that they brush daily but skip flossing, it becomes evident that they’re not getting the full benefit of their oral hygiene routine.
Never be afraid to ask your dental hygienist questions on how to best floss. For example, some of our patients have permanent retainers that can make it tricky to get in between the teeth to floss, and our Ladysmith dental hygienists can help not only with tricks, but also provide you tools (such as floss threaders) to help you do so.
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Gently slide the floss between your teeth using a back-and-forth motion, curve it around the base of each tooth in a C-shape, and make sure to reach below the gumline to remove plaque and food particles without forcing it, which can damage your gums.
5. We understand you can’t carry on a conversation during your cleaning.
At Ladysmith Smiles, our team of dental hygienists truly care about our patients and may ask you questions beyond “How many times are you flossing per week?” That being said, we understand that when our dental instruments are in your mouth, you can’t respond and that’s okay! Sometimes our patients choose to zone out and even close their eyes during their cleanings and we are happy to keep the chatter to a minimum. Our Ladysmith dental hygienists choose a career in dentistry because they genuinely care about helping people. We see every appointment as a chance to connect with you and love hearing about your life—whether it’s family updates, hobbies, or just what’s been going on lately—but also respect that your cleaning may be the only chance you get to lie down and do nothing this week. Overall, our goal as your dental hygienist is to support you, answer your questions, and make sure you feel empowered to maintain that healthy smile in between visits.
6. We only recommend X-rays when they are needed.
We sometimes hear mixed feelings about dental X-rays, and it’s perfectly normal to wonder if they’re really necessary. Some patients worry about radiation exposure or think it’s just an added cost they can skip, but let our dental hygienists reassure you: Dental X-rays are essential for catching issues that aren’t visible during a regular exam, like hidden cavities or bone loss. X-rays allow us to see the big picture of your oral health and help us address problems before they become serious—and more expensive to treat.
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Depending on your specific concerns and when your last x-ray was taken, our team may recommend various kinds of imaging. Here’s a rundown of what we might suggest:
- Bitewings: These are your go-to, standard check-up x-rays that help us diagnose cavities between your teeth. Following the Canadian Dental Association’s guidelines, we usually recommend bitewings for our patients every 18 to 24 months.
- Periapical (PA) X-rays: These x-rays are taken when we need to investigate issues that go beyond just the surface. They show the entire root structure of a specific tooth and are usually performed on an as-needed basis.
- Panoramic X-rays: We recommend these comprehensive x-rays every five years. They allow us to see the entire structure of your jawbones and teeth. These images are crucial for monitoring wisdom teeth, examining temporomandibular joints (TMJ), and performing oral cancer screenings.
We always take precautions to keep your exposure as low as possible and offer the latest technology. At Ladysmith Smiles, expect pricing transparency so you can feel confident knowing there are no surprise costs. Ultimately, dental x-rays are a valuable tool that help ensure you maintain a healthy smile for years to come.
7. The more honest you are about your habits, the better we can help.
At Ladysmith Smiles, we always encourage our patients to be open about their dental habits and any concerns they might have. Please don’t ever feel like you’ll be judged! We want you to know that our goal is to help you, not to criticize you. We’re all human, and everyone has struggles when it comes to maintaining their oral health. The more honest you are about your habits—whether it’s how often you brush, what you eat, if you smoke or any discomfort you’re feeling—the better we can tailor our advice and support to meet your needs. Your comfort and health are our top priorities. Together, we can work toward achieving the best possible dental health for you.
Oral Hygiene/Teeth Cleaning in Ladysmith, BC
Dental hygiene appointments are an important part of taking care of your smile, and your Ladysmith dental hygienist is here to help you smile more—and smile healthier! Think of your Ladysmith dental hygienists as partners in your oral health—here to cheer you on and make sure you feel confident about your smile. Contact our team today to book your next dental hygiene appointment.