A beautiful, healthy smile that lasts a lifetime is our ultimate goal. Your personal home care plays an important role in achieving that goal. It starts at home by eating balanced meals, reducing the number of snacks and sweets, and correctly using the various dental aids to help control the plaque and bacteria that cause dental disease.
Tooth Brushing
Brush your teeth at least twice a day, especially before going to bed with an ADA approved soft bristle brush and toothpaste.
Place the brush a t a 45 degree angle to the gums and gently brush using a small, circular motion (The use of an extra soft bristled toothbrush is highly recommended to avoid trauma to 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.
Use a tongue scraper to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.
Use of the rubber tip is recommended to massage the gums to increase blood flow and therefore reduce inflammation.
Floosing
Electric toothbrushes are also recommended since they are easy to use and can remove plaque more efficiently. Simply place the bristles of the electric brush on your gums and teeth and allow the brush to do its job. Make sure you properly use the electric toothbrush (ask a dental professional for instructions), in order to avoid trauma to the gums which can cause recession.
Take 12-18 inches of dental floss and wrap it around your middle fingers, leaving about 2 inches of floss between the hands.
Using your thumbs and forefingers to guide the floss, gently insert the floss between the teeth.
Curve the floss into a “C” shape around each tooth and under the gumline. Gently move the floss up and down, cleaning the side of each tooth.
Floss holders are recommended if you have difficulty using conventional floss.
Rinsing
It is important to rinse your mouth with water after brushing, and also 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.
Use other dental aids as recommended by your dentist or dental hygienist: Interdental brushes, rubber tip stimulators, tongue cleaners, irrigation devices, fluoride, and medicated rinses can all play a role in good dental home care.
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