A love letter to hygienist
The hygienist is like your personal oral health coach because, as children we are told to brush our teeth, but not many of us are taught how to do it.
Think about what you want out of life. No, really, go into a state where the shackles of modern life aren't weighing you down. The freedom. The possibilities. The breathing easily. Who would you be? What would you do?
Now apply the same principle to visiting the dentist. Imagine you never had any dental issues that required you to sit long hours of your life having treatment ( or even enduring pain). Wouldn't it be great? ( and cheaper). Smiling with ease and hanging out with your family and friends. Meals where you could eat anything. Imagine it all.
Not only is that possible, but it is the case for many people across the country. The key to their liberation is regular hygiene appointments.
Tucked away in a smaller room of the dental practice, busy doing God's good work, are our hygiene professionals. Often overlooked, the hygiene appointment is an investment into one's future.
People think the hygiene appointment is some scraping of teeth to remove the stained build-up, and this much is true. But it is so much more than that.
So, what happens during a hygiene appointment or what should happen during a hygiene appointment?
The hygienist does a thorough assessment of your oral hygiene practices at home. They then check how your home methods are showing up in the mouth by checking the bacterial biofilms around it. Sometimes they will stain these biofilms to see where the bacterial colonies are in the maturation stage (we have always done this in our clinics here at the gum guide). Based on their collected information, they will give a tailored hygiene plan suited to your mouth and life. This is just the first part of the appointment.
The second part will involve removing all the bacteria in hard-to-reach places, so it doesn't fester and turns into symptoms through neglect. They will then also remove the hard build-up, harbouring more hidden bacteria. During this process, any staining that is present may also be removed.
Finally, should there be any further issues, i.e. beginnings of gum disease beyond management at home or through hygiene appointments, they will alert you and the dentist to begin early treatment.
The hygienist is like your personal oral health coach because, as children (and later on in life), we are told to brush our teeth, but not many of us know how to do it effectively. Because it isn’t some that is taught.
If you made it this far, you might think, but what is in it for me? The added impact of the above will be the prevention of losing teeth, early detection of issues and support to guide you through your home hygiene. There is also the added benefit of a healthy balanced oral microbiome which will prevent other problems like diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimer's disease, as well as improve your chances of fertility and hormone imbalance and possibly reduce the risk of arthritis. A life of freedom is what a regular hygiene appointment will buy you.
You may now be ready to begin your life, so we have conducted a small round-up of hygienists around the country. If you already have a hygienist and want to give them a big up so more people around your area can also benefit, please let us know ( email, Instagram DMs, or comments, whatever is easy). We will edit this post to include a comprehensive list based on regions.
If you aren’t interested, scroll down to our new segment below!
London
The whole team of Hygienist at RW perio
Midlands
Amrit- Leicestershire
Bianca- Northamptonshire
Chandni - Leicestershire
Gina - Leamington Spa
Jess- Leicester
Laura- Cambridgeshire
Maddy - Birmingham
Nina - Derby
Poppy - Northamptonshire
Sarah- Cambridgeshire
Simrat- Northamptonshire & Bedfordshire
Stephanie - Leicester & Birmingham
North
Amy- York
Amy- Newcastle
Caroline -Durham
Claire Louise - Leeds
Claire Louise H - Cheshire
Chloe- Manchester
Edith - Huddersfield
Gemma- Southport
Holly- Southport & Rawtenstall
Jessica- Newcastle & Durham
Lindsey- Newcastle
Poppy Louise- Leeds
Rio - Cheshire
Samuel - Leeds
South
Abigail Rose- Cheltenham
AG- Harrow
Alice- Wyebridge
Amy- Hertfordshire
Antonia- Essex
Benjamin - Oxford
Chole- Tavistock
Chloe A- Kent
Chloe W- Slough
Danielle- Kent
Ellie- Hampshire
Elosie- Essex
Katie- Hampshire
Nikema- Woking & Wyebridge
Polly- Sidmouth
Rose - Honchurch & Romford
Rosie- Oxfordshire
Rabiya - Norfolk
Sophia- Bristol
Tanja - Oxfordshire
Scotland
Amber- Edinburgh
Kai- Edinburgh
Laura- Glasgow
Sarah- Glasgow
Sophie - Glasgow
Wales
Jessica- South Wales
We would like recommendations or please get in touch if you are a hygienist in Wales, we’d like to include you.
Ireland
We would like recommendations or please get in touch if you are a hygienist in Ireland, we’d like to include you.
Reading Material
As the gum guide evolves to become a resource for optimal gum health, there is an expansion to our newsletter. Welcome to 'Reading Material', a little synopsis from a book, topical stories in the world of health or the latest research. All are linked to improving your health and well-being outcomes. Bringing you closer to personal freedom in some way from the disability of diseases.
Today we begin with a book.
CURED by Dr Jeff Rediger
This book is about the remarkable stories of those who have returned from terminal illnesses, ranging from multiple complications from diabetes and end-stage organ failure due to Lupus to incurable cancers. Collectively people who have experienced something called spontaneous remission.
Rediger began a quest to link the behaviour and patterns that led to these humans healing so profoundly that they returned from the death's door. He quickly discovered that the answer was in the immune system, the body's defence powerhouse. Changes happened there, which reduced inflammation in the body and opened the door to health.
How each case arrived at this endpoint was different. It ranged from a radical change in nutrition, healing childhood trauma, improving relationships, and setting boundaries to even finding God. Eventually, arriving at the deduction that there was a hidden link between the mind and the immune system.
On deeper inspection, Rediger concluded that each person changed the narrative of their personal story. They reshuffled the picture of their life. At first glance, this may give the impression that these people took control, which they did but not in the way we may think. Rather than obsessing over the minute details of nutrition, changing stress or sleeping pattern, they let go of control and gave in to their terminal diagnosis. They began to live the life they had always wanted. They were altering their (health) journey. This change in mindset triggers something in the brain that links to the immune system, calming inflammation. Because medicine ( and science) can sometimes be so disciplined, the revelation of this exact mechanism may take some time.
The stories are profound and inspiring. The host immune response has undergone a transformation short of a miracle in these cases.
How may this relate to gum health?
While we admit that gum health has never been a life-terminal illness, it considerably increases disability and quality of life. The social and psychological aspects of poor gum health are immense. Gum health is linked with systemic diseases (see above).
Added to this is the age-old narrative that people cannot change the weak gum or teeth they have inherited. Receding gums or losing teeth is a certainty. If faced with the possibility of gum issues, you can decide to rewrite your health story. It could be a profound change and beginning towards better well-being. Your DNA doesn't have to be your destiny, and the cases shared in this book prove this many times over.
Furthermore, when it comes to gum health, it is becoming apparent that the host immune response is a key player, with inflammation as the lead star. With the inspiration of the personal stories shared in this book, anyone can work towards strengthening their immune system with the correct mindset and the proper guidance ( from their dentist, periodontist or hygienist). This is where The Gum Guide comes into play. Our whole mission is to get more people talking about their gum health and work towards healthier gums. So, they are free to be the person they are supposed to be, living their life's purpose.
If you aren't a reader or books aren't accessible to you, this Ted Talk video by Dr. Jeff Redgier is an equally inspiring short dose.
If you have any questions or feedback, please email or DM us on Instagram @thegumguide. Please note that we cannot diagnose and give personalised health advice ( kindly see your dental professional for that).
This week’s photography is by Anna Biret, who captures humans in moments of freedom in the every day rat race all over the world.
We are incredibly grateful to all our readers who give us their time and attention as well as continued feedback. If you have somehow stumbled upon today's newsletter and wish to keep up to date, please enter your email to subscribe.
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