Dental hygiene: how to have the perfect white smile (2024)

I strongly believe that orthodontics should be a route to a healthier smile. However, keeping your teeth clean is indisputably more challenging when you have braces. We all need to keep our teeth free from plaque, the sticky film which contains destructive bacteria, which, over time, causes decay.

When you wear aligners, plaque can build up on your teeth while they are inside the trays. Fixed braces trap food and are also conducive to a build-up of plaque. Cleaning around the brackets and wires isn’t straightforward. All in all, it’s important to be extra vigilant when you are in treatment.

I employ a dental hygienist for the convenience of our patients. If you are in fixed braces you can organise a joint appointment with me and the hygienist, Gosia. You will see me first and I will remove the wires so that, Gosia, our hygienist, can provide you with a thorough clean. At the end of the session with Gosia, you come back to me to fix the new wires.

There are two important aspects to professional tooth whitening. A dental professional – a dentist or hygienist working under the supervision of a dentist -is trained to provide teeth whitening and has access to good quality products. If you do not see a dental professional, you could be putting yourself at risk. The General Dental Council, the regulator of dentistry in the UK, has produced a lot of information on the topic of whitening. In essence, tooth-whitening is the practice of dentistry and you should have appropriate dental training in order to provide the treatment.

Our aim for all our patients is that they finish their treatment with teeth which aren’t just straighter, but healthier in every way. We would recommend that patients have their teeth whitening with us or at their dental practice.