Hygiene
Services
Teeth & Gums Hygiene Tips
287 Oteha Valley Road
Albany, Auckland
01 / Hygiene
Introduction
Healthy gums start with everyday care.
Even regular brushing can miss spots along the gum line and between teeth. Our hygiene team helps you improve your technique and keep those hard-to-reach areas clean.
What is plaque?
Plaque is a soft film of bacteria that builds up on teeth. Daily brushing and cleaning between teeth help remove it. When left behind, it can contribute to cavities, bad breath and inflamed gums.
What is tartar?
Plaque can harden into tartar, also called calculus. Once hardened, it needs professional cleaning—brushing and flossing alone cannot remove it.
02 / Hygiene
Our Hygienist
Thorough care with a gentle touch
Our hygiene team aims to make your clean both thorough and comfortable, including areas around the back teeth and below the gum line.
If you need deeper cleaning for gum disease, we will explain the treatment and discuss ways to keep you comfortable, including local anaesthetic when appropriate.
What happens during a scale and polish?
- Ultrasonic cleaning: a vibrating instrument loosens deposits, with water keeping the tip cool.
- Hand scaling: fine instruments clean areas that need more precise attention.
- Polishing: a polishing paste helps leave the tooth surfaces smooth.
We also offer practical advice on brushing and cleaning between your teeth.
03 / Hygiene
Gum Disease Treatment
Recognise the early signs
Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums. They may look swollen or bleed when you brush, even without pain. Professional cleaning and good daily care can help restore gum health.
When gum disease progresses
Periodontitis affects the tissues and bone supporting the teeth. Gums may recede and pockets can develop around teeth. Without treatment, teeth can become loose.
Small habits that help
- Clean every tooth surface, including the gum line.
- Use a soft toothbrush and gentle pressure.
- Clean between your teeth daily.
- Attend the cleaning appointments recommended for your needs.
Tell us if your gums bleed, feel sore or look different. Gum disease can be painless, so regular checks matter.
04 / Hygiene
Professional Teeth Whitening
Does Whitening Work?
Definitely. Everyone can have white teeth, but depending on one’s starting point, some people need more applications than others to achieve a good result. Very discoloured teeth may need more than one whitening session to lighten the teeth.
Exceptions are people with Tetracycline stains (caused by taking Tetracycline antibiotics at childhood). These teeth will not lighten like normal teeth and is very hard to whiten. Yellow teeth are generally easier to whiten compared to grey teeth. Young teeth whiten a lot quicker than older teeth. Whitening only works on natural teeth, not fillings or porcelain crowns/veneers.
It lightens the enamel and not the dentine. Therefore, people who have gum recession, the browny roots exposed along the gum line cannot be whitened, only the enamel that covers the crown of the tooth can be lightened.
Whitening is no magic, having one session done and expecting the teeth to become as white as the models in magazines or poster is unrealistic (many have veneers/crowns coloured perfectly). However, if one continues to whiten their teeth a few days every 4-6 months (with a touch-up kit), super white teeth are achievable.
How long will it last?
If you bleach your white shirt and wear it every day, what happens to the white shirt?
Similarly, after whitening, the colour of our food and drink will cause our teeth to discolour again.
Depending on one’s diet, people who drink red wine, coffee and tea will discolour their teeth quicker than others.
A few days of touch up whitening usually will lighten the teeth again, so most people do not need to go through the full session again.
Is Whitening safe?
YES, The whitening gel is designed to go in the mouth and is safe if ingested during the whitening session.
NO, It is not safe for people who have cavities (hole in teeth) or inflamed gums (due to gingivitis or gum disease) The whitening gel may kill a tooth if there is a tooth cavity. It may also hurt unhealthy gums.
* Whitening is NOT RECOMMENDED for pregnant mothers and breastfeeding mothers.
We strongly recommend you have our teeth checked and gum cleaned before doing the whitening. This will make sure there are no cavities in the mouth, and also no dirt (plaque/calculus) creating a barrier to prevent the whitening gel from bleaching the teeth.
05 / Hygiene
Whitening Options
1) Zoom! In-Surgery Instant Whitening
Instant Results
2.5 Hours Appointment
The whitening procedure is repeated 3-4 times for best result
A special light is clincked onto a mouth piece to activate the gel for fast result
A good option for people who want fast results due to time constrain (attending a wedding or photo shoot), or people who know they will never wear the trays at home.
2) Pola CP 35% Customised Tray Whitening Kit
– Offers 20 days of Take-Home Whitening 15 mins per day
– Includes 10 syringes of whitening gel for 20 days of whitening
– Customised upper and lower whitening trays
– Appointment needed with our hygienist to take a mould of your mouth
– Your moulds are then sent to the lab for Your trays to be Customised
– Ready in a week’s time for collection
– Instructions will be provided when you collect Your whitening kit
– Your trays are permanent trays and can be reused for many years, you just need to purchase whitening gel refills
– If teeth are white enough before finishing 20 days of whitening, the left over whitening gel can be used in 6 months for touch up