Oral Hygiene
ORAL HYGIENE IN (XYZ)
What are the benefits of maintaining good oral hygiene?
Gum disease (periodontal disease) is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults over 35. At some point throughout their lives, three out of four adults are afflicted. Using proper dental brushing and flossing practices daily is an excellent way to avoid cavities and periodontal disease.
Bacterial plaque causes both periodontal disease and tooth decay. Plaque is a whitish coating that forms on the gum line of your teeth. Plaque forms on your teeth regularly. You may remove these germs and help prevent periodontal disease by brushing and flossing your teeth thoroughly every day.
Brushing your teeth in the proper way
Please call the office to schedule an appointment if you have any pain while brushing your teeth or queries about how to brush properly.
Drs. (XYZ) all recommend using a soft to a medium toothbrush. Brush your gums and teeth at a 45-degree angle. Brush the outside surfaces of your teeth in a circular motion many times with tiny, soft strokes. When inserting the bristles between your teeth, use light pressure, but not so much that you feel uncomfortable.
Once you’re done cleaning the outside surfaces of your teeth, move to the inside surfaces of the rear teeth, then repeat the process.
Hold the brush vertically to clean the inside surfaces of the upper and lower front teeth. Brush each tooth with a series of gentle back-and-forth strokes. Don’t forget to clean the gum tissue around your teeth lightly.
Next, using short, soft strokes, clean the biting surfaces of your teeth. Change the brush’s position as needed to reach and clean all surfaces. Make an effort to keep an eye on yourself in the mirror to ensure that you have cleaned every surface. After you’ve finished brushing, please give it a good rinse to eliminate any plaque that may have loosened throughout the process.
What is the proper way to floss my teeth?
Periodontal disease typically manifests itself between the teeth in areas that your toothbrush cannot reach. Flossing is a highly effective method of plaque removal from those surfaces. It is critical, however, to develop the proper technique. The instructions below will assist you, but keep in mind that it takes time and dedication.
Begin with an 18-inch length of floss (waxed is preferable). Wrap the majority of the floss around the middle finger of one hand lightly. The remainder of the floss should be wrapped around the middle finger of the other hand.
Hold the floss tightly between the thumb and forefinger of each hand to clean the upper teeth. Using a back-and-forth motion, gently insert the floss tightly between the teeth. Avoid squeezing the floss or attempting to snap it into place. Bring the floss up to the gum line and form a C-shape against one tooth. It should be inserted into the space between the gum and the tooth until slight resistance is felt. The floss should move up and down the side of one tooth. Bear in mind that each space requires the cleaning of two tooth surfaces. Floss each side of all upper teeth. Take care not to sever the gum tissue that runs between the teeth. Turn the floss from one finger to the other as it becomes soiled to obtain a new section.
Using forefingers of both hands, guide the floss between the bottom teeth. Remember to include the backside of the final tooth on both upper and lower sides.
Once finished, vigorously rinse with water to remove plaque and food particles. Don’t be frightened if your gums bleed or are a bit uncomfortable during the first week of flossing. When flossing causes pain in your gums, you may be flossing too hard or pinching the gum. As you floss daily and remove plaque from your gums, your gums should heal, and the bleeding should cease.
Sensitive tooth care
Teeth might be sensitive to warmth and cold after dental treatment. This should only last a few minutes if the mouth is maintained clean. If the mouth isn’t kept clean, the sensitivity will persist and may worsen. Consult your doctor if your teeth are susceptible. They may advise using a medicated toothpaste or mouthwash explicitly designed for sensitive teeth.
Product selection for oral hygiene
Because there are so many products on the market, it might be tough to choose among them. Here are some recommendations for dental care products that will benefit the majority of people.
The majority of patients find automatic and “high-tech” electronic toothbrushes to be safe and effective. Oral irrigators (water sprayers) will thoroughly rinse your mouth, but they will not remove plaque. Brushing and flossing should be done in combination with the irrigator. Electric toothbrushes such as Rotadent and Interplak produce outstanding results.
A rubber tip on the handle of some toothbrushes is used to massage the gums after brushing. There are also interproximal toothbrushes, which are tiny brushes that clean between your teeth. If you misuse these, you could hurt your gums, so talk to your doctor about using them properly.
Fluoride kinds of toothpaste and mouth rinses can prevent tooth decay by up to 40% when used in conjunction with brushing and flossing. Remember that these rinses are not suitable for children under the age of six. Tartar control toothpastes remove tartar above the gum line, but gum disease begins below the gum line, so these products haven’t been demonstrated to help prevent gum disease in its early stages.
The American Dental Association has approved anti-plaque rinses, which contain ingredients to help manage early gum disease. Brushing and flossing should be combined with these.
Dental cleaning by a professional
Brushing and flossing daily will help keep dental calculus at bay, but a professional dental cleaning will remove calculus that your toothbrush and floss have missed. Your visit to our office is a crucial component of your gum disease prevention plan. It will help if you keep your teeth for the rest of your life.
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