Home Care

Our aim is to provide our patients with a healthy and lasting smile that shines for a lifetime. Home-care is a crucial aspect of maintaining a beautiful and healthy smile. Plaque and bacteria are the leading cause of dental disease. You can begin the journey towards healthier teeth by consuming wholesome foods, decreasing sugary snacks, and properly utilizing dental aids.

The Proper Way to Brush

Brushing of the teeth must be performed at least twice per day – generally in the morning and before bed. A small, soft, bristled toothbrush, less than three months old is an ideal choice. In order to polish through all areas of the mouth, the head of the brush must be small. The bristles should be gentle enough as to not cause unnecessary injury to the gum tissue. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), revolving or vacillating toothbrush heads are more successful than regular forms.

Basic guide to proper brushing:

• The toothbrush should be positioned at a 45-degree angle between the gums and teeth.
• Teeth must be gently brushed in circular motion
• The surface of each tooth must be brushed: tongue-side, cheek-side, and chewing surfaces.
• The surfaces of the back teeth require additional importance.
• Brushing the tongue will eliminate debris, food and fungi and optimize back-and-forth movement to brush the chewing surfaces.

The varieties of toothbrushes available are endless. Electric toothbrushes are more effective in extricating plaque and removing food particles from around the gums and teeth due to the vibrating motion of the brush. Similar results may be achieved with a manual tooth brush, but more effort is needed to do so.

Maintaining oral hygiene establishes through consistent flossing and brushing of the teeth. Routine visits to your dentist eliminate debris, plaque, and tartar. However, sustaining oral hygiene at home is equally imperative. The health of your mouth depends on consistent brushing and flossing so your smile remains beautiful all day and prevents severe diseases.

The Proper Way to Floss

Flossing is a great way to remove plaque from the interdental regions (between the teeth).  Flossing is an especially important tool for preventing periodontal disease and limiting the depth of the gum pockets.  The interdental regions are difficult to reach with a toothbrush and should be cleansed with dental floss on a daily basis.  The aesthetics of the floss are unimportant, so choose floss that will be easy to use.

A basic guide to proper flossing:

• Cut a piece of floss to around 18-inch and wrap it around the middle finger of each hand until they are 2-3 inches apart.
• Use the thumbs to work gently between the teeth toward the gum line.
• Gently move the floss up and down to remove interdental plaque and debris. Refrain from snapping the floss between the teeth as this will aggravate and wound the gum.

Rinsing: after brushing the teeth, it is vital for you to rinse your mouth. It is wise to consult with your doctor before using an over-the-counter rinse.

Other dental aids may also be recommended by your dentist: rubber tip stimulators, irrigation devices, tongue cleaners, interdental brushes, fluoride, medicated rinses, etc., can all assist in a valuable dental home-care.