Why Your Dental Hygienist Loves Their Job in Boise, ID

If you’ve ever moaned or groaned at having to brush and floss your teeth at the end of a long day or struggled to get your children to do the same, you may wonder what exactly may drive a person to do this professionally. Not to mention, since you’re not able to talk much during your dental visits, you likely haven’t had much opportunity to find out more about what it’s like to be a dental hygienist. So while you don’t have to “open wide,” here are 5 things dental hygienists love about dentistry to help you get to know the person who keeps your and your family’s smile bright, healthy, and clean.

1. Connecting with patients of all ages.

Did you know that you are the number one reason your dental hygienist loves dentistry? From your child’s first pediatric dentist visit to your routine exams and cleanings, your dental hygienist genuinely enjoys the opportunity to get to know you and watch your family grow. Though they may only see you twice a year in our office, or occasionally around town, our dental hygienists love hearing about your background, stories, and being a small, yet consistent part of your life here in Boise.

Along with getting to know you and your family, your dental hygienists take pride in reviewing your health history, assessing potential oral health issues, and creating accurate records that help your dental team closely follow your oral health and general well-being.

2. Making smiles bright, healthy, and clean.

As their title implies, a huge part of your dental hygienist’s role is to share their professional dental hygiene skills with each one of your teeth. Your dental hygienist, after all, can clean your teeth in a way that’s simply not possible for your toothbrush to tackle, removing both hard and soft deposits of bacterial buildup (known as tartar and plaque) from even the tiniest crevices and spaces. Along with preventing cavities and unsightly yellowing, this routine professional cleaning is essential for helping to prevent periodontal disease. Also known as gum disease, periodontal disease impacts over half of adults over the age of 30 and is the leading cause of adult tooth loss. Once your hygienist has removed these harmful deposits from your teeth, they polish your smile, which can remove the early stages of surface staining and restore your smile’s natural sheen. When you leave your routine cleaning, your dental hygienist has the satisfaction of knowing your smile is healthier and more beautiful than when you came in.

3. Staying up-to-date on modern dental techniques and technology.

From finding a dentist by Googling “dentist near me” to reducing your exposure to radiation through digital radiography, advances in all forms of dental technology have dramatically improved how patients engage with their dentist and experience dentistry. These advances are meaningful for your dental hygienist too, who gets to provide you and your children with the safest and most comfortable dental experience while enhancing their diagnostic capabilities and treatment accuracy.

4. Helping patients move toward their best oral and overall health.

Did you know your oral health is directly connected to the health of your entire body? While poor oral health is associated with serious health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, depression, and diabetes, good oral health is associated with better overall health and self-esteem. With that, your dental hygienist knows that every appointment you have contributes to you enjoying better health and the higher quality of life that comes with it. While pediatric dentistry appointments help set the stage for your children to experience the lifelong benefits oral health brings, your routine dental visits enable you to prevent and detect oral health issues in their earliest stages and get the timely treatment you need.

5. Knowing that their field is a form of self-care that positively influences every area of their patients’ lives.

While it’s often simply conflated with bubble baths and spa days, self-care includes a range of practices that proactively preserve or improve your health and well-being, with well-documented benefits for your immediate and long-term well-being. From getting enough exercise and sleep to maintaining routine dental visits, self-care is one of the most powerful tools you have in your toolbag for reducing stress, boosting productivity, and supporting your professional, relational, and social health. Your dental hygienist is honored to be part of the actions you’re taking to nurture your total well-being, for a life that is healthy, balanced, intentional, and satisfying.

Our dental hygienists, and entire team, are passionate about providing the best in general and pediatric dentistry to the patients we serve in Boise, ID. To learn more about our practice or to schedule your next appointment, contact our office today.