Home Care

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 soft bristle brush and toothpaste.

1. Place the brush at a 45 degree angle to the gums and gently brush using a back and forth motion, brush two-three teeth at time for five strokes ensuring that you always feel the bristles on the gums. We recommend the use of a SonicCare toothbrush to improve your ability to obtain clean gum and tooth surfaces, allow the brush 5 seconds on the two-three teeth being brushed.
   
2. Brush the outer, inner, and biting surfaces of each tooth.
   
3. Use the tip of the brush to clean the inside of the front teeth.
   
4. Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.
5. Be sure to angle the tooth sideways in order to clean the sides of teeth with a gap in place.

Electric toothbrushes are also recommended.  They are easy to use and can remove plaque efficiently.  The SonicCare brush is the recommended electric style brush to be used. Contact our office for recommended model of brush to purchase.

Flossing – Daily flossing is the best way to clean between the teeth and under the gum line.  Flossing not only helps clean these spaces, it disrupts plaque colonies from building up, preventing damage to the gums, teeth, and bone.

1. 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.
   
2. Using your thumbs and forefingers to guide the floss, gently insert the floss between teeth using a sawing motion, always begin below the gum line and work your way up to the bite surface of your teeth.  Think "shinning a shoe" motion as you clean the sides of your teeth.
   
3. Using an approved floss holder device is recommended for ease of flossing especially the back teeth, use the same technique of "shinning a shoe" movement starting below the gumline always.

*avoid using the bulk packaged floss threaders with a toothpick like end, the floss on these is very cheap floppy and will not clean the tooth surfaces.  Call us if you have any questions.

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, make sure it’s a alcohol free product.  Mouth rinses are temporary at best and if not a prescription product offer little in the way of controlling bad breath and have no effect on gum disease or tooth decay.

Our office will recommend products that can aid you in keeping your breath fresh and your teeth and gums in good condition.