hygienist

Everyday

1. A dental hygienist: a trained health worker who cleans people's teeth, removes hard tartar and teaches how to brush and floss. tree →
2. Less often, any expert on hygiene and health, such as an occupational hygienist who checks workplaces are safe and clean. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life, children meet a hygienist at the dentist's: the hygienist scrapes and polishes the teeth and shows how to brush properly. In stories about jobs it is a health career. Phrases: dental hygienist, see the hygienist, the hygienist's chair.

Examples

• The hygienist cleaned my teeth and made them shiny. tree →
• The hygienist showed me how to floss between my teeth. tree →
• Mum has an appointment with the dental hygienist. tree →
• My aunt trained for three years to become a hygienist. tree →
• The hygienist said I should brush for two minutes, twice a day. tree →
• A hygienist works alongside the dentist. tree →

Note

Countable: a hygienist, two hygienists. Spelling like «hygiene»: h-y-g-i-e-n-i-s-t. A hygienist is not a dentist: dentists fill and pull teeth; hygienists mostly clean and prevent decay.