Oral Hygiene
Good Oral Hygiene Helps Prevent Periodontal Disease
Keeping your teeth and gums clean is very important to the prevention of periodontal disease. This prevention requires regular visits to your dentist, and regular brushing and flossing. But it doesn’t do you much good if you’re not brushing and flossing your teeth correctly and daily.
The purpose of brushing and flossing is to remove the soft plaque and food at the gum line around all areas of teeth while the plaque is still soft. If not removed, the soft plaque hardens and forms calculus or tartar above and below the gums. At this point the calculus is too hard and too deep under the gums for removal by brushing and flossing and now must be removed at the dental office.
Follow our helpful pointers below in order to get the most out of oral preventative care, including advice on caring for sensitive teeth and choosing the right hygiene products.
How to Brush
There are different correct variations on how to brush your teeth. Here is one recommended variation.
Brush at least twice a day, morning and at bedtime. You can brush more times a day if you wish. Use a soft bristled tooth brush, where the bristles have not separated too much.
While brushing the outside surfaces of your teeth, position the brush at a 45-degree angle to where your gums and teeth meet. Gently move the brush in a circular motion several times using small, gentle strokes. Use light pressure while putting the bristles between the teeth, but not so much pressure that you feel any discomfort. When you are done cleaning the outside surfaces of all your teeth, follow the same directions while cleaning the inside surfaces of all your back teeth.
To clean the inside surfaces of the upper and lower front teeth, hold the brush vertically. Make several gentle back-and-forth strokes over each tooth. Don’t forget to gently brush the surrounding gum tissue. Next you will clean the biting surfaces of your teeth. To do this use short, gentle strokes. Change the position of the brush as often as necessary to reach and clean all surfaces. Try to watch yourself in the mirror to make sure you clean each surface. After you are done, rinse vigorously to remove any plaque you might have loosened while brushing.
If you have any pain while brushing or have any questions about how to brush properly, please be sure to call the office.
How to Floss
Floss a minimum of once daily, preferably with your last brushing of the day, and after your last meal of the day. Use waxed floss for tight areas between teeth to prevent the floss from breaking.
Since many people don’t floss daily and regularly, periodontal disease usually appears between the teeth where your toothbrush cannot reach. Flossing is a very effective way to remove plaque from between teeth. However, it is important to develop the proper technique. The following instructions will help you, but remember it takes time and practice to develop the habit of flossing correctly.
Start with a piece of floss (waxed is easier) about 18″ long. Lightly wrap most of the floss around the middle finger of one hand. Wrap the rest of the floss around the middle finger of the other hand.
To clean the upper teeth, hold the floss tightly between the thumb and forefinger of each hand. Gently insert the floss tightly between the teeth using a back-and-forth motion. Do not force the floss or try to snap it in to place. Bring the floss to the gum line then curve it into a C-shape against one tooth. Slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth until you feel light resistance. Move the floss up and down on the side of one tooth. Remember there are two tooth surfaces that need to be cleaned in each space. Continue to floss each side of all the upper teeth. Be careful not to cut the gum tissue between the teeth. As the floss becomes soiled, turn from one finger to the other to get a fresh section.
To clean between the bottom teeth, guide the floss using the forefinger of both hands. Do not forget the back side of the last tooth on both sides, upper and lower.
When you are done, rinse vigorously with water to remove plaque and food particles. Do not be alarmed if during the first week of flossing your gums bleed or are a little sore. If your gums hurt while flossing you could be doing it too hard or pinching the gum. As you floss daily and remove the plaque your gums will heal and the bleeding should stop.
For those people that find it hard to manipulate and manage the floss correctly, floss aids are available at your pharmacy. Ask us or your dentist about these aids.
Caring for Sensitive Teeth
Sometimes after dental treatment, teeth are sensitive to hot and cold. This sensitivity should not last long, but only if the mouth is kept clean. If the mouth is not kept clean the sensitivity will remain and could become more severe. If your teeth are especially sensitive consult with your dentist. A medicated toothpaste or mouth rinse made especially for sensitive teeth may be recommended.
Choosing Oral Hygiene Products
There are so many hygiene products on the market that it can become confusing and overwhelming trying to choose the right one. Here are some suggestions for choosing dental care products that will work for most patients.
Electronic Toothbrushes
Automatic and “high-tech” electronic toothbrushes are safe and effective for the majority of patients, if used properly. Oral irrigators (water spraying devices) will rinse your mouth thoroughly, but will not remove plaque. You need to brush and floss in addition to the irrigator. We see excellent results with electric toothbrushes, if used correctly and consistently .
Some toothbrushes have a rubber tip on the handle; this is used to massage the gums after brushing. There are also tiny brushes (interproximal toothbrushes such as Proxibrushes) that clean between your teeth, when there are sufficient spaces between your teeth. If these are used improperly you could injure the gums, so discuss proper use with your dentist.
Fluoride toothpastes and Mouth Rinses
Both of these, if used in conjunction with brushing and flossing, can reduce tooth decay as much as 40%. Remember, rinses are not recommended for children under six years of age. Tartar control toothpastes will reduce tartar above the gum line and gingivitis, but periodontal disease starts below the gum line so these products have not been proven to reduce periodontal disease.
Your dentist or periodontist is the best person to help you select the right products that are best for you.
Professional Cleaning
Daily brushing and flossing will keep dental calculus or tartar to a minimum, but a professional cleaning or other type of treatment is needed to remove calculus in places your toothbrush and floss have missed. Visit your periodontist, as he or she is an important part of your program to prevent and treat gum disease.
