Oral Hygiene

Why is oral hygiene so important?

Adults over 35 lose more teeth to gum disease (periodontal disease) than from cavities. Three out of four adults are affected at some time in their lives. The best way to prevent cavities and  periodontal disease is by using good toothbrushing and flossing techniques daily.

Periodontal disease and decay are both caused by bacterial plaque. Plaque is a colorless film that sticks to your teeth at the gum line. Plaque constantly forms on your teeth. You can remove these germs and help prevent periodontal disease by brushing and flossing daily.

How to Brush Teeth

Drs. Fowler and Pulsipher recommend using a soft toothbrush. Position the brush at a 45-degree angle where your gums and teeth meet. Move the brush in a circular motion several times, using small, gentle strokes to brush the outside surfaces of your teeth. Use light pressure while putting the bristles between the teeth, but not so much pressure that you feel any discomfort.

When you are done cleaning the outside surfaces of all your teeth, follow the same directions while cleaning the inside of the back teeth.

To clean the inside surfaces of the upper and lower front teeth, hold the brush vertically. Make several gentle back-and-forth strokes over each tooth. Don’t forget to gently brush the surrounding gum tissue.

Next you will clean the biting surfaces of your teeth by using short, gentle strokes. Change the position of the brush as often as necessary to reach and clean all surfaces. Try to watch yourself in the mirror to make sure you clean each surface. 

How to Floss

Periodontal disease usually appears between the teeth where your toothbrush cannot reach. Flossing is a very effective way to remove plaque from those surfaces. However, it is important to develop the proper technique. The following instructions will help you, but remember it takes time and practice.

• Break off about 18 inches (45 cm) of dental floss.
• Wind most of it around one middle finger, and the rest around the other middle finger.
• Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and index fingers.
• Gently guide the floss between your teeth using a back-and-forth motion.
• Curve the floss into a “C” shape against one tooth and slide it up and down along the side of the tooth and just under the gumline.
• Move to a clean section of floss as you go from tooth to tooth.
• Don’t snap or force the floss, as this can hurt your gums.
• When you finish, throw away the used floss and rinse your mouth with water.

Do not be alarmed if, during the first week of flossing, your gums bleed or are a little sore. If your gums hurt while flossing, you could be doing it too hard or pinching the gum. As you floss daily and remove the plaque, your gums will heal, and the bleeding should stop.

Caring for Sensitive Teeth

Sometimes after dental treatment, teeth are sensitive to hot and cold. This should not last long if the mouth is kept clean. If the mouth is not kept clean, the sensitivity will persist and could worsen. If your teeth are especially sensitive, we can recommend a sensitivity toothpaste or mouth rinse made especially for sensitive teeth.

Choosing Oral Hygiene Products

There are so many products on the market it can be confusing, and choosing among them can be difficult. Here are some suggestions for choosing dental care products that will work for most patients.

Automatic and “high-tech” electronic toothbrushes are safe and effective for the majority of individuals. We see excellent results with electric toothbrushes like Oral-B and Sonicare. When possible, use extra soft brush heads for sensitive gums and run your electric toothbrush on low speed.  Oral irrigators (water spraying devices) are better than nothing but cannot mechanically remove all the plaque in your mouth.  Brushing and flossing are a must but irrigators, floss aids, interproximal brushes and mouth rinses can be helpful adjuncts in home care. 

Fluoride toothpastes and mouth rinses, if used in conjunction with brushing and flossing, can reduce tooth decay.  Children under six years of age should not use prescription fluoride toothpastes or mouth rinses. 

Professional Dental Cleaning

Daily brushing and flossing will keep dental tartar to a minimum, but a professional dental cleaning will remove tartar in places your toothbrush and floss have missed. Your visit to our office is an important part of your program to prevent gum disease and keep your teeth healthy for your lifetime.