Home Care
The care that you put into your dental hygiene regime at home is one of the most important factors to ensure you get and keep a perfect smile. Things like eating healthy, reducing sugary snacks and using the proper dental aids are all ways that you can help us, help you.
Brushing Your Teeth
Everyone brushes their teeth. But are you doing it in the proper manner to facilitate the best care for your teeth? Follow this short checklist to make sure you are cleaning those pearly whites properly.
- Use an ADA approved toothbrush and toothpaste, preferably soft bristled
- Use a small, circular motion with the brush at a 45 degree angle, while maintaining contact with the gums the entire time.
- Brush each section of each tooth, including inner, outer and biting sections
- To clean the difficult to reach area on the inside of the front teeth, use the very tip of the brush.
- Bad breath? Make sure you are brushing your tongue to remove that bacteria that causes bad breath.
- We recommend using electric toothbrushes, because of the ease of use and effectiveness in removing plaque.
The next step in your oral care regime is of course…
Flossing
Flossing cleans the narrow area between your teeth and under your gum line, where food tends to get stuck and plaque colonies build up.Proper flossing disrupts the colonies and prevents them from building up and causing damage to teeth, gums and bone. To floss properly, follow the checklist below.
- Wrap floss around your middle fingers, with a length of 2 inches between your hands.
- If conventional floss is difficult for you to use, we recommend floss holders.
- Insert the floss between teeth using a gentle sawing motion, using your pointer finger and thumb to guide it.
- Guide the floss into a C shape around each tooth and under the gumline. Move the floss up and down on the side of each tooth.
tooth.
Lastly we come to..
Rinsing
If you are unable to brush after meals, rinsing is a good second choice. Consult with your Dentist or Dental Hygienist on which type of over the counter, or prescription rinsing agent is the best fit for your needs. It is an important last step of your dental hygiene plan to rinse every time you are done brushing and flossing.
There are other, various dental tools that could benefit you, depending on the recommendation of your Dentist or Dental Hygienist such as rubber tip stimulators, tongue cleaners, irrigation devices and more. Make sure to talk to your Dentist or Dental Hygienist about the best tools for your needs.