A beautiful, healthy smile that lasts a lifetime is our ultimate goal when treating patients. Your personal home care plays an important role in achieving that goal. Your personal involves a number of factors which includes eating balanced meals, reducing the number of snacks you eat, and correctly using the various dental aids that help control the plaque and bacteria that cause dental disease.
Brushing Your Teeth
We recommend to brush your teeth at least twice a day (especially before going to bed at night) with an ADA approved soft bristle brush and toothpaste. If you are an established patient and currently use a medium or hard bristled toothbrush please contact our office. We will provide a soft or extra soft bristled toothbrush to you at no charge.
- Place the brush at a 45 degree angle to the gums and gently brush using a small, circular motion, ensuring that you always feel the bristles on the gums.
- Brush the outer, inner, and biting surfaces of each tooth.
- Use the tip of the brush to clean the inside of the front teeth.
- Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.
Electric toothbrushes have made proper tooth brushing incredibly easier. They allow patients to brush correctly because the toothbrush actually does the work for you. Our dentists and staff recommend that you simply place your electric toothbrush at the normal 45 degree angle on both the cheek and tongue sides of each tooth for 2-3 seconds. If you follow this recommendation, we believe each patient will notice a remarkable difference. Please visit our office for a tutorial on how to brush with a manual as well as an electric toothbrush.
Flossing
Daily flossing is the best way to clean between the teeth and under the gumline. Flossing not only helps clean these spaces, it disrupts plaque (buildup) and bacteria from growing, preventing damage to the gums, teeth, and bone.
- Take 12-16 inches (30-40cm) of dental floss and wrap it around your middle fingers, leaving about 2 inches (5cm) of floss between the hands.
- Using your thumbs and forefingers to guide the floss, gently insert the floss between teeth using a sawing motion.
- Curve the floss into a “C” shape around each tooth and under the gumline. In other words, the floss should “hug” the tooth. Pull towards the front of your mouth so the floss rubs the side of the tooth above and below the gums. Then push back so the floss rubs the side of the tooth above and below the gums.
If your have trouble holding the floss there are a number of hygiene aids available. Please ask our staff on your next visit should you want to know options.
Rinsing
It is important to rinse your mouth with water after snacking and after meals if you are unable to brush. If you are using an over-the-counter product for rinsing, it’s a good idea to consult with your dentist or dental hygienist on its appropriateness for you. Most mouth rinses are adequate but if you have any questions please let us know!
Additional dental aids such as interdental brushes, rubber tip stimulators, tongue cleaners, irrigation devices, fluoride, medicated rinses, etc., can all play a role in good dental home care.
For more information on the services we provide, please contact our office.
