Most of what it takes to keep your mouth healthy is what you do outside the dental office: your home hygiene; your diet; your exercise, sleep, stress management, and other lifestyle habits.
If you don’t take care of those, there’s not a whole lot we can do except repair any damage and help you learn to make better choices to minimize the need for even more in the future.
But even if your mouth is in great shape, coming in for regular exams and cleanings is still vital. There are areas of your mouth that can be hard to clean well at home, such as below your gums, and home tools just aren’t up to the task of removing the hardened plaque deposits known as tartar or calculus. (Both words mean the same thing. And despite what you may have seen on TikTok, it can be dangerous to try to use a scaler on yourself at home.)
More, you don’t have the advanced tools that we have to help keep your teeth and gums at their best – medical grade ozone for disinfection and healing support, for instance, or ultrasonic scalers. Nor do you have the gear necessary to identify potential problems so they can be addressed early to keep them from becoming big problems – Velscope, for example, to spot any early signs of oral cancer, or a phase contrast microscope to get a glimpse of the health of your oral microbiome via the types of bacteria and other microbes in your saliva and how active they are.
These are things that only a skilled biological dental hygienist can provide, along with customized coaching and guidance to help you keep your home care at its best.
Recently, we welcomed a new Registered Dental Hygienist to our team here at Fremont Natural Dentistry, and we wanted to take a moment to introduce you to her: Catherine Jin.
A San Francisco native, Catherine holds an associate’s degree in dental hygiene and is certified in the use of dental lasers. She’s also absolutely passionate about connecting with her patients and building meaningful relationships with them. “There’s nothing more rewarding than getting to know each person and being part of their oral health journey,” she says.
I love educating and empowering patients to take charge of their oral health, guiding them every step of the way to brighter smiles and healthier lives.
An avid traveler, Catherine loves spending as much time as possible with her husband, daughter, and two adorable fur babies who never fail to keep the three of them on their toes. She’s also quite the foodie, who enjoys the cooking almost as much as the eating. When she’s not indulging in culinary adventures, you may find her outdoors, hiking through nature or tending her garden.
We count ourselves lucky that Catherine has joined our Fremont Natural Dentistry team. She’s an exceptional hygienist and an exceptional person who looks forward to meeting and getting to know you at your next exam and cleaning.
Need to get that appointment scheduled? Give us a call now: 510-745-1800.
