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| "A man with a toothache thinks everyone happy whose teeth are sound." - George Bernard Shaw |
PREVENTIVE CARE
A Strong Foundation
Keeping your teeth and gums healhty is relatively easy. A simple routine of cleaning your teeth daily (there is more to it than just brushing), developing good eating habits and having regualr dental visits can go a long way toward preventing tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease.
What Causes Tooth Decay & Gum Disease?
In a word, plaque. Your teeth is covered in plaque, a sticky film of bacteria. When you eat, bacteria converts the sugar and starch in the food into acids that attack tooth enamel. In time, the enamel can break down, resulting in cavities.
If plaque's not removed through daily brushing and cleaning between the teeth, it can eventually harden into calculus -- a.k.a. tartar. When tartar collects near or directly along the gum line, brushing and flossing become increasingly difficult.
Unremoved plaque can cause your gums to become increasingly irritated and inflamed, causing to swell and/or bleed. This condition, called gingivitis, is the early stage of gum disease. The good news is gum disease is reversible through professional teeth cleaning and good oral hygiene at home.
The bad news is if left untreated, gum disease may result in your gums to actually pull away from youth teeth, forming pockets or spaces between the teeth and gums. These pocket or spaces usually become infected. Without treatment this infection can progress, causing bone loss and loosened teeth that may fall out or require extraction.
Brushing twice a day and cleaning between your teeth at least once a day -- with floss or other dental cleaners -- can help remove food particles and plaque. This preventive care is essential to avoiding tooth decay and gum disease.
Are There Any Tips For Brushing Teeth Properly?
Brush at least twice a day and use an American Dental Association (ADA)-accepted fluoride toothpaste to help prevent tooth decay. Here are a few tips help you develop a good brushing routine:
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When brushing along your gumline, tilt the brush at a slight angle -- about 45 degrees -- against the gumline and sweep or roll the brush away from the gumline. When brushing your teeth, use short, gentle storkes. It doesn't take too much pressure to remove plaque from your tooth. Overly vigorous scrubbing could irritate your games. | |
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Clean all the surfaces of your teeth -- the other surfaces and inner (shown) here, as well as the chewing surfaces. Many people overlook the chewing surfaces, a.k.a. the top of your teeth. Some also neglect to thoroughly brush their front teeth, especially the inside portion of both their lower and top front teet. | |
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And remember your tongue. Gently brush it all the way to the back. This is a crucial, often overlooked part of a good toothbrushing. Brushing the tongue removes bacteria, including the bacteria that can cause bad breath. Don't negate the effectives of your toothbrushing by forgetting to also brush your tongue. |
Why Is Flossing Necessary If I Brush Twice A Day?
Even if you do an exceptional job brushing your teeth and even if you religiously brush them at least twice every day, decay-causing bacteria still lingers between your teeth, where your brush's bristles can't reach. Flossing or using another interdental cleaner removes the plaque and food particles between your teeth and under the gumline. Here's some suggestions for proper flossing techniques:
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Break off about 18 inches of floss, winding most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger on your other hand. Then pinch the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers, with about an inch or two of floss between them, leaving no slack. | |
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Gently slide the floss between your teeth. Do not jerk or snap the floss into the gums. Don't forget to floss the back of the last tooth in each row of teeth. This is a critical area where plaque often builds up. | |
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When the floss reaches the gumline, curve it into a C-shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth until you feel resistance. It's essential to floss beneath the gumline. |
If you haven't been flossing, you may experience sore or bleeding gums for the first five or so days that you start flossing. This soreness or bleeding should stop once the plaque is broken up and the bacteria is removed. If the bleeding does not stop, call us or CLICK HERE to request an appointment.
If you have trouble handling floss, you may want to try a floss holder or other type of interdental cleaning aid, including narrow brushes, picks or sticks used to remove plaque from between teeth. We can explain how to properly use these implements.
How Do I Know What Types Of Products Will Be Most Effective For Me?
Ask us -- your dentists -- what types of oral care products might be most effective for you. People's needs differ, and we are as concerned as you are about choosing the products that will best serve your individual needs.
Choosing products that bear the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance is generally a move. The ADA Seal assures you that a product has met the Association's criteria for safety and effective. Look for the seal on fluoride toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss, interdental cleaners, oral irrigators and mouthrinse.
Are There Any Other Tips For Preventive Care?
Fluoride is your friend. Fluoride helps strengthen your teeth's enamel and can assist in repairing microscopic decay. Be sure your toothpaste contains fluoride. If you have sensitive teeth, we may suggest using a specialized toothpaste.
Pick the brush that's best for you. You want a toothbrush that feels comfortable in your hand and in your mouth. Then you want to use it at least twice a day. Brushes that have earned the ADA seal can remove plaque above the gumline and reduce gingivitis. Kids should use child-sized toothbrushes.
Keep your brush fresh. About every three or four months, if not sooner, you'll need to replace your toothbrush because if you're using it it's going to become worn down. A brush with frayed bristles simply can't do a good job cleaning your teeth. Children's toothbrushes tend to wear out more quickly than adult brushes.
A powered toothbrush. A powered toothbrush is option anyone might choose, but persons with physical difficulties or manual dexterity limitations may find a powered brush easier to use and, thus, more effective.
Oral irrigating devices. These devices use a stream of water to remove food particles in and around teeth. They can be especially useful for people wearing braces or fixed partial dentures. But they are meant to enhance -- not replace -- regular brushing and flossing.
Therapeutic vs. Cosmetic Mouthwash. Therapeutic mouthrinses include those that contain flouride and those with antimicrobal agents, which can help reduce plaque and gingivitis. Cosmetic mouthrinses freshen breath by masking the odor, actually reducing the bacteria that produces the bad breath, and/or neutralizing the odors they produce. If you find that you are constantly using a breath freshner, ask us about it. In some cases, bad breath can be a sign of poor health.
A worn brush, which is a good thing cause you're using with frayed bristles simply can't do a good job cleaning your teeth.
Do you have to brush all your teeth? No. Skip those you don't mind losing. |