Celebrating hygienists this Dental Hygiene Month

If you’ve ever left a checkup or cleaning with a new tip, better brushing technique, or extra motivation to floss, you already know: hygienists do a lot more than clean teeth.

They’re educators, advocates, and trusted guides who connect the dental chair to daily life. At quip, we’re proud to support this community and the people behind better oral care. Here’s a quick look at where dental hygiene began, how it’s grown, and what’s next.

A quick look back

The dental hygiene profession began in 1907, when Bridgeport, Connecticut, dentist Dr. Alfred Fones trained his cousin, Irene Newman, in preventive dental care. That training put Newman on the path to becoming the first licensed dental hygienist.

Pretty cool start to a profession that became an everyday essential.

More than a century later, the tools have changed, but the heart of the job hasn’t: help people prevent problems, understand their oral health, and build better habits.

Why hygienists matter

A good cleaning is great. But a lot of the value happens around it. Hygienists answer questions you forgot to ask, offer tips that fit your routine, and help you understand what’s going on in your mouth. They remind us that small changes can go a long way.

And that conversation doesn’t stop when you leave the chair. Hygienists help turn what happens during a visit into habits you can keep up at home.

Shaping the future of oral care

At quip, we’re proud to show up for the dental hygiene community by partnering with organizations that support hygienists and future RDHs, spotlighting RDH-owned stores in our Cusp newsletter, and offering free CE to keep learning going.

We also invite hygienists to weigh in as we develop new products and improve existing ones. Through our ambassador community, they can connect with other dental pros, share ideas, and grow together.

Because better oral care is a team effort, and we’re building ours with the best.

Here’s to the hygienists

September may be Dental Hygiene Month, but the work doesn’t stop here. The work you do every day makes a lasting impact, helping people build healthier habits and better health over time. A million thanks!