Dental hygiene work involves removing plaque (a soft, sticky layer of bacteria, food & saliva) and hard tartar (calculus) deposits that have built up on the teeth over time. Your teeth are continually bathed in saliva which contains calcium and other substances which help strengthen and protect your teeth. While this is definitely beneficial, it unfortunately means that we tend to get a build-up of calcium deposits on the teeth. This chalky substance will build up over time, almost like the limescale deposits at the base of your kettle. Usually it is tooth coloured and can easily be mistaken as part of the teeth, but it can also vary from brown to black in colour.

If this tartar is allowed to build up on the teeth, it will unfortunately provide the right conditions for bacteria to thrive beside the gums. Regular cleaning, as well as deeper scaling and root-planing (cleaning under the gums), removes plaque (tartar) and associated bacteria. This helps prevent decay as well as gum disease (gingivitis), and bone loss (periodontal disease), the major cause of tooth loss. Regular hygiene appointments help maintain teeth for life.