Home Care for Healthy Smiles
Our main objective in patient treatment is to assist them in attaining a lasting, healthy, and beautiful smile. Personal home care plays a vital role in achieving this objective. This involves consuming balanced meals, minimizing snacking, and utilizing dental aids to manage plaque and bacteria that lead to dental issues.
Tooth brushing – Brushing your teeth at least twice a day, particularly before bedtime, with an ADA approved soft bristle brush and toothpaste is crucial.
- 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.
For optimal plaque removal, it is strongly advised to use electric toothbrushes. By positioning the bristles of the electric brush on your gums and teeth, you can enable the brush to efficiently clean multiple teeth simultaneously.
Additionally, daily flossing is a crucial component of oral hygiene. Flossing aids in cleaning the spaces between teeth and beneath the gumline, disrupting the formation of plaque colonies and safeguarding the health of the gums, teeth, and bone.
- Measure out 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.
- With your thumbs and forefingers as guides, carefully insert the floss between your teeth using a sawing motion.
- Form a “C” shape with the floss around each tooth and under the gumline. Gently slide the floss up and down, cleaning the sides of each tooth.
If you find traditional flossing difficult, floss holders are a great alternative to consider.
Rinsing – It is important to rinse your mouth with water after brushing and meals, especially if you are unable to brush. Before using any over-the-counter rinsing products, be sure to consult with your dentist or dental hygienist.
Be sure to follow the recommendations of your dentist or dental hygienist when using other dental aids such as interdental brushes, rubber tip stimulators, tongue cleaners, irrigation devices, fluoride, and medicated rinses to maintain good dental home care.
