Hygiene treatment, Airflow and biofilm therapy are all designed to support your oral health, but they are not the same thing.
While some treatments focus on removing plaque and hardened tartar, others are designed to remove soft biofilm or surface staining. Depending on your needs, your dental team may recommend one approach or a combination of treatments to help keep your smile feeling clean and healthy.
So, what do these treatments involve, and how are they different?
What is a standard hygiene treatment?
A standard hygiene treatment, often called a scale and polish, is designed to professionally clean your teeth and gums. During your appointment, your clinician will remove plaque and hardened tartar, also known as calculus, from your teeth and around the gumline. This may be done using hand instruments, ultrasonic instruments or a combination of both.
They may also polish your teeth and can provide tailored advice to help you improve your oral health at home. This could include guidance on brushing technique, cleaning between your teeth, caring for your gums or managing areas that are more difficult to keep clean.
What can a standard hygiene treatment help with?
A standard hygiene treatment can help remove build-up that cannot be removed by brushing alone. It may be recommended if you have tartar build-up, bleeding gums, bad breath, gum inflammation or areas that are difficult to clean at home. It can also be part of your regular dental care, helping you maintain healthy teeth and gums over time.
Your dental team will let you know how often they recommend you see a hygienist or dental therapist, based on your individual oral health needs.
What is Airflow?
Airflow is a cleaning technique that uses a controlled stream of air, warm water and fine powder to gently remove soft plaque, biofilm and surface staining from the teeth.
It can be particularly useful for removing stains caused by things like tea, coffee, red wine or smoking. It may also help clean around harder-to-reach areas, including around fixed braces, retainers, crowns, bridges or dental implants.
Airflow can feel different from a traditional scale and polish because it does not rely on scraping in the same way. However, if you have hardened tartar on your teeth, scaling may still be needed to remove it.
What can Airflow help with?
Airflow can help remove soft deposits and surface staining, leaving your mouth feeling cleaner and fresher.
It is often associated with stain removal, but it can also be used to support oral hygiene by removing biofilm from the teeth and around dental work.
Airflow is not a teeth whitening treatment, and it will not change the natural colour of your teeth. However, by removing some surface stains, it may help your smile look brighter and feel cleaner.
Is Airflow the same as scaling?
Airflow and scaling do different jobs. Airflow is effective at removing soft plaque, biofilm and surface staining. Scaling is used to remove hardened tartar, also known as calculus, which cannot usually be removed with brushing or Airflow alone.
This means Airflow is not always a replacement for scaling. In many cases, the two can complement each other as part of a hygiene appointment.
Your dental team will assess your teeth and gums and recommend the most suitable approach based on what needs to be removed and how best to support your oral health.
What is biofilm therapy?
Biofilm therapy, is a structured approach to biofilm removal. It may involve using a dye to make biofilm easier to see. This helps your dental team identify the areas where biofilm is building up, while also helping you understand which areas may need more attention when you brush and clean between your teeth at home.
The biofilm is then removed using a combination of techniques, which may include Airflow. If hardened tartar is present, scaling may also be needed.
Which treatment do I need?
The right treatment will depend on your teeth, your gums and your individual oral health needs. You may benefit from a standard hygiene treatment if you have plaque or tartar build-up, bleeding gums or signs of gum inflammation. Airflow may be recommended if you have soft plaque, biofilm or surface staining that you would like removed.
These treatments are not about one being better than another. They are different ways to support your oral health, and your dental team can help advise which option is most appropriate for your smile.
Speak to your local mydentist practice
Your local mydentist team is best placed to talk you through the hygiene treatments available at your practice, including NHS provision where clinically appropriate and private options such as Airflow or biofilm therapy.
They can explain what each appointment includes, provide up-to-date pricing and help you understand which option may be most suitable for your smile.
If you're new to mydentist or looking for a practice, find your local mydentist today. You can also explore our full range of treatments and services online.