Healthier gums
A clean helps support healthier gums and can reduce bleeding when you brush.
Prevention
Dental hygiene, a professional clean to keep your gums healthy
A professional clean from a hygienist keeps your gums healthy, lifts everyday stains, and catches small problems before they grow. At Day Night Dental in Merchant City you can book straight in with the hygienist, no dentist visit needed first, and we are open day and night, every day.
The Treatment
The clean your toothbrush cannot manage
Dental hygiene is the routine cleaning your teeth cannot get at home, no matter how well you brush. Plaque builds up every day. When it hardens into tartar, a toothbrush will not shift it. A hygienist removes that build-up above and below the gumline, polishes the teeth, and shows you how to keep things clean between visits. It is a key part of helping to keep gum disease and decay at bay.
You will find us at 80 Hutcheson Street in the Merchant City, a couple of minutes on foot from Argyle Street and Queen Street stations and the St Enoch subway, so a clean slots easily into a working day in central Glasgow. Some patients have not seen a hygienist in years, others come in like clockwork, and wherever you sit on that scale there is no lecture. We tell you plainly what your gums look like, what is working, and what could be better. If your gums bleed when you brush, it is worth a visit, as bleeding can be an early sign of gum disease.
This is preventive care, not a diagnosis. A hygiene appointment keeps healthy mouths healthy and stops early problems getting worse. It works best alongside a regular dental check-up, and if we spot something that needs a dentist's eye, we will tell you. For anyone with established gum disease, a routine scale and polish may not be enough, and you may need deeper periodontal treatment instead.
Is This You?
Gums that bleed when you brush, or a clean that is long overdue?
Maybe your gums bleed when you brush, your breath never feels quite fresh, or tea, coffee and red wine have left their mark. Or perhaps it has simply been years since your last professional clean, and you would rather not think about how long.
Whatever brings you in, a hygiene appointment is an easy first step. You will leave with a fresher mouth, a clear picture of how your gums are doing, and a couple of small changes that make the biggest difference at home. If dental visits make you anxious, we look after nervous patients gently, and if you want a genuinely whiter shade rather than a cleaner surface, teeth whitening is the treatment for that. Plenty of people also book a clean to feel their best before a wedding, an interview or a big event.
Why Patients Choose It
Why a regular clean matters
Lower risk
Can help lower the risk of gum disease and decay over time.
Fresher breath
Trapped bacteria and tartar are a common cause of bad breath, so removing the build-up can help.
Cleaner-looking teeth
Teeth that can look and feel cleaner as surface stains are lifted.
Advice for home
Personalised home-care advice to support your day-to-day routine between visits.
Early warning
A chance to spot problems while they are still small and simple to deal with.
How It Works
What happens at your appointment
01
A quick look first
We check your gums and teeth, note any tender or bleeding spots, and take a quick gum-health score, gently measuring the small pockets where the gum meets each tooth. It is painless, and together with a word about your routine at home it tells us exactly where to focus.
02
Scaling
Using an ultrasonic scaler and fine hand instruments, we remove plaque and hardened tartar from the teeth, including just below the gumline where it does the most harm.
03
Stain removal, where it helps
A gentle jet of water, air and a fine powder lifts stubborn staining from coffee, tea, tobacco and the like. The powder is fine-grained and designed to be kind to enamel, and it reaches grooves and gaps a normal polish can miss.
04
Polish
A smooth polish finishes the surfaces, which leaves teeth feeling clean and makes it harder for plaque to cling on.
05
Tailored advice
We show you what is working and what to change, including brushing technique and which interdental brushes or floss suit the gaps between your teeth. Good home care between visits helps keep your mouth healthier for longer.
Aftercare
Looking after your teeth afterwards
A little tenderness is normal, especially if it has been a while. Here is what to expect and how to keep the results going.
The first day or two
- Your gums may feel a little tender, and you might notice slight bleeding if they were inflamed before treatment. This settles quickly.
- If your teeth feel sensitive, ease off very hot, cold or acidic food and drink for a short while.
- Many people eat and drink as normal straight after.
- Severe pain, a spreading swelling or a suspected abscess is a different matter from post-clean tenderness. If that happens, do not wait for a routine slot, our emergency dentist service is there for exactly this.
Every day from here
- Brush twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste.
- Clean between your teeth daily with floss or interdental brushes, which is where most gum problems start.
- An antibacterial or fluoride mouthwash can help, though it is best used at a different time from brushing so it does not rinse away the fluoride in your toothpaste.
- Cutting back on sugary food and drink protects both gums and teeth.
Keeping it up
- Good home care between visits helps keep your mouth healthier for longer.
- Stick to the routine we set out for you, and come back at the interval we advise for your gums.
- For some that is around six months, for others sooner.
Honest considerations
What to keep in mind
This is maintenance, not a substitute for a full dental examination. If something needs investigating, you will still need a check-up.
If you already have gum disease, a standard scale and polish may not be enough. Established periodontitis usually needs a deeper clean of the root surfaces below the gum, sometimes over more than one visit.
A clean lifts surface stains and can make teeth look brighter, but it does not change the natural colour of your teeth. That is whitening, which is a different treatment.
Some short-term sensitivity and gum tenderness is normal, especially if it has been a while. It is a sign the gums were inflamed, not a sign anything went wrong.
Smokers, people with diabetes, those wearing braces, and anyone with existing gum trouble tend to need more frequent visits to stay on top of things.
If you have implants, veneers or certain fillings, tell us, so we can confirm that stain removal is suitable around them before we use it.
Common Questions
Dental hygiene questions, answered
Does a scale and polish hurt?
For most people it is uncomfortable at worst, not painful. If your gums are inflamed or your teeth are sensitive, parts of it can twinge. Tell us and we will work gently and pause whenever you need. Nervous patients are welcome.
How often should I see a hygienist in Glasgow?
Around every six months suits many people. If you smoke, have diabetes, wear braces or have a history of gum disease, every three to four months may be better. We recommend an interval based on what we actually see in your mouth, not a one-size-fits-all rule. Evening and weekend appointments make it easier to keep that interval if you work in the city centre, without booking time off.
Can I book a hygienist without seeing a dentist first?
Yes, in most cases you can come straight to the hygienist. If we notice anything during your clean that needs a dentist's attention, we will let you know and help you arrange it.
Will it whiten my teeth?
It lifts surface stains from things like coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco, so teeth often look brighter and cleaner afterwards. It does not change the underlying shade of your teeth. If you want a genuine colour change, that is whitening, which is a separate treatment.
Can it help with bad breath?
Often, yes. Persistent bad breath can come from bacteria and tartar around the gumline and between the teeth. Removing that build-up, plus a better daily routine, can help reduce it for many people.
Will my gums bleed after the appointment?
A little bleeding or tenderness for a day or two is common, particularly if your gums were already inflamed. It should settle on its own. Keep brushing gently and cleaning between your teeth. If bleeding carries on beyond a few days, get in touch.
Is a scale and polish the same as a deep clean?
No. A scale and polish is routine maintenance for gums that are largely healthy. A deep clean, or periodontal treatment, goes further beneath the gumline to clean the root surfaces and treat established gum disease, and usually takes more time and more than one visit. We will tell you clearly which one your gums need.
My gums bleed more now I am pregnant. Is that normal?
It is very common. Pregnancy hormones make gums more reactive to plaque, so they can become puffy, tender and quick to bleed, which is often called pregnancy gingivitis. A hygiene appointment is safe during pregnancy and can make a real difference, alongside gentle daily cleaning between the teeth. Let us know you are pregnant when you book so we can tailor the visit to you.
What dental care is free on the NHS in Scotland?
NHS dental examinations are free for everyone in Scotland. NHS dental treatment is free if you are under 26, pregnant or have given birth in the last 12 months, or qualify for a low-income exemption. Purely cosmetic treatment, such as whitening, is private-only. If you are not sure what applies to you, ask when you book and we will talk you through your options.
How much does a hygiene appointment cost?
Every mouth is different, so the honest answer is that it depends on you: how much build-up and staining there is, whether your gums need a routine clean or something deeper, and how often we advise you to come back. At your consultation the dentist will go through your options and the cost of each, and you will get a written, itemised quote before anything is agreed. Nothing goes ahead until you are happy.
My gums are swollen and painful tonight. What should I do?
Rinse gently with warm salty water, keep the area as clean as you can with a soft brush, and take painkillers as directed on the packet if you need them. A tender patch after a clean usually settles, but a hot, throbbing swelling, a bad taste in your mouth or a gum abscess should not wait for a routine appointment. Call us any time, day or night, and we will tell you what to do next. We hold same-day emergency slots every day and aim to see you quickly.
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