Skipping the dentist is costing you more than just your smile. Here’s how to properly care for your teeth

Alice Dogruyol discovers why keeping up your visit to the dentist matters more than you may think

Words: Alice Dogruyol | Images: Shutterstock

There was a time when a dental appointment sat somewhere between filing taxes and cancelling a direct debit: necessary, mildly stressful and easily postponed. Now? It feels like booking a facial rather than a chore.

As a woman living with type 1 diabetes, my mouth has always been my early warning system. If my blood sugar drifts, my gums are the first to flare. In the years before my type 1 diagnosis, small cavities appeared out of nowhere. Looking back, it was all connected; my mouth was reflecting systemic stress. I now know that oral health is deeply linked to overall health.

Chronic gum inflammation is associated with cardiovascular disease, systemic inflammation and even cognitive decline. Research is also exploring links between certain oral bacteria and cancers, including pancreatic and colorectal cancer. The mouth isn’t an isolated ecosystem. Oral bacteria can enter the bloodstream, influencing immune and inflammatory pathways throughout the body.

For someone managing an autoimmune condition, that matters.

I recently booked myself into Ten Dental in London, because I wanted something beyond a routine scale and polish. Ten Dental feels modern, advanced and quietly boundary-pushing. Their scope is broad, offering everything from orthodontics to facial aesthetics. The hygiene appointment genuinely felt like the oral equivalent of an invigorating facial.

A deep clean

It began with a thorough assessment of my teeth and gums. I rinsed with antimicrobial BacterX® Pro mouthwash before treatment began. Then came something unexpectedly nostalgic: a biofilm disclosing solution. It reminded me of the bright pink staining tablets we chewed as children to see where we’d missed when brushing. This updated version temporarily stained areas where bacterial film had accumulated. Suddenly the invisible was visible, and the hygienist could target precisely where needed.

Next came Airflow® – a warm stream of water, air and fine powder that gently removed biofilm and surface staining. No scraping. No flinching. Perioflow® followed, cleaning below the gumline, the hidden space where gum disease begins. Finally, an ultrasonic Piezon® tool removed any remaining tartar with precision.

When I stood up out of the chair, my teeth didn’t only feel polished, they looked brighter, glowing, as though an invisible inflammatory layer had been lifted.

We book facials to prevent congestion, stimulate circulation and maintain glow. We understand maintenance prevents bigger interventions later. Yet we treat dental hygiene as reactive, something to endure only when there’s visible tartar or bleeding. But what if we reframed it? What if hygienist appointments became the oral equivalent of facials? Preventative resets for tissues that matter just as much as our skin?

Another shift in modern dentistry mirrors what we’ve learned about gut health: balance is everything. The oral microbiome is a complex ecosystem, and many bacteria are actually protective. Yet we’ve been conditioned to “kill everything” with alcohol-based mouthwashes. That familiar burn may feel effective, but it often signals disruption. Alcohol can dry the tissues and disturb microbial balance, potentially allowing less desirable bacteria to rebound.

Fluoride is also a topic of ongoing debate, and personally I choose to avoid it. I’ve moved towards alcohol-free rinses and toothpaste formulas containing hydroxyapatite – the same mineral from which our enamel is made – which supports remineralization while strengthening the tooth surface, and does pretty much the same thing as fluoride. 

For me, a proper hygienist visit isn’t mere maintenance – it’s immune support. We track sleep. We optimise nutrition. We invest in skincare. Perhaps it’s time we treated our mouths with the same reverence.

Try these…

Prof. Dr. Shaman Postbiotic Toothpaste Tabs

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Gutology Mineral Toothpaste

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Clinisept+ Dental Mouthwash

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Nura Mineralising Toothpaste

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Luvbiotics

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Swissdent Biocare Toothpaste

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