Your mother always told you to floss. And like it or not, she was right, says dental hygienist Heather Mayhew. “Floss, floss, floss,” Mayhew said when asked for her three best dental care tips.

With that in mind, Mayhew has opened the doors to Floss Dental Hygiene Services. A soothing spa-like atmosphere greets patients at the new Comox Avenue clinic, the first stand alone dental hygiene clinic on the North Island.

Floss provides dental hygiene services including oral cancer screenings, cleaning, polishing, fluoride application, tooth whitening and the fabrication of sports guards. Services are available at the clinic and in Residential Care facilities.

“There is no restorative work going on at the clinic, meaning no dental drill noise, chemical smells or needles,” Mayhew explains. “I’ve tried to create a space that is relaxing, soothing and calm. It is like having your teeth cleaned at the spa.”

A Dental Hygienist with a degree in psychology, Heather has perfected the art of relaxing her patients, while educating them about their dental health. She has worked as hygienist in the Comox Valley since 2002.

Heather will also be taking her expertise on the road, providing residential care to those in the community who are no longer able to go out and seek dental care.

“A large element of my practice will focus on care homes, hospital and other care facilities in town, treating those who are unable to continue making trips to see their dentist or dental hygienist,” Mayhew said. “At this stage in life we often see a decline in oral health. It is an extremely important time, often due to numerous medical issues, to keep the oral environment as healthy as possible.”

Seeing a dental care professional on a regular basis can help control periodontal disease; furthermore, gum disease has been linked to many diseases including diabetes, lung disease and heart disease.

In addition to the dental hygiene care provided, clients will be required to see their dentists at least once per year.

“A dental hygienist cannot work on a client unless they have had a check-up exam with their dentist within the last 365 days,” Mayhew explains.

The College of Dental Surgeons and College of Dental Hygienists are working together to change this rule in an effort to increase access to care for those who have not had an opportunity to visit a dentist recently.

Floss Dental Hygiene Services is working with a host of insurance providers, and most major companies accept billings from Dental Hygiene providers.

The clinic’s fees follow the BC Dental Hygiene Fee Guide, as provided by the BC Dental Hygienists Association.

From the Comox Valley Echo