A beautiful, healthy smile that lasts a lifetime is our ultimate goal when treating patients. Your personal home care plays an important role in achieving that goal. Your personal home care starts by eating balanced meals, reducing the number of snacks you eat, and correctly using the various dental aids that 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 at night) with an ADA approved toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
Electric toothbrushes are highly recommended by our dental team. They are easy to use and remove plaque more efficiently than a manual toothbrush. Simply place the bristles of the electric brush on your gums and teeth and allow the brush to do its job, several teeth at a time. Our dental team will recommend the best electric toothbrush for you and your oral health. Depending on the brand, each electric toothbrush has unique features. During your dental exam and cleaning, our experienced dental team will review why an electric toothbrush is so beneficial and we will advise which electric toothbrush is best for you.
Flossing – Daily flossing is the best way to clean between the teeth and under the gumline. Flossing not only helps clean these spaces, it disrupts plaque colonies from building up, preventing damage to the gums, teeth, and bone.
- Take 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.
- Using your thumbs and forefingers to guide the floss, gently insert the floss between teeth using a sawing motion.
- 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 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 our dental team on its appropriateness for you.
Use other dental aids as recommended by our dental team: interdental brushes, rubber tip stimulators, tongue cleaners, irrigation devices, fluoride, medicated rinses, etc., can all play a role in good dental home care.
