Cleanings & Prevention- Home Care
Our top priority when treating patients is to help you along the journey of achieving a healthy and beautiful smile that will last a lifetime. We do our part, now you have to do yours; your home care is key in achieving and maintaining your goal. First it starts with an element that is often overlooked, a properly balanced diet and the number of snacks you eat (more specifically sugary snacks you eat). The use a toothbrush and mouthwash to prevent the build up of plaque (which leads to tartar and stains your teeth) and also to keep bacteria down (which leads to dental disease and sometimes other illnesses [sore throat].
Brushing your teeth- We recommend that you brush your teeth at least three times per day (especially before bedtime) with an ADA approved soft bristle brush or an electric toothbrush (spin brush) and toothpaste.
Time and time again we see patients who are brushing their teeth 3-4 times per day (which is very good) but they demonstrate to us how they do it and it is wrong. If you are brushing too hard you can actually damage your teeth and break down the enamel (hard protective coating over teeth). So the next section will explain how to properly brush your teeth. This is straight off the ADA (American Dental Association) website. It explains how to brush your teeth in a very helpful and descriptive way.
How do I brush my teeth?
-
Place
your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle
against the gums.
- Move the brush back and forth
gently in short (tooth-wide)
strokes.
- Brush the outer tooth surfaces,
the inner tooth surfaces, and the
chewing surfaces of the teeth.
- Use the "toe" of the brush to
clean the inside surfaces of the
front teeth, using a gentle
up-and-down stroke.
- Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.
Electric toothbrushes are also recommended. They are easy to use and can remove plaque efficiently. 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. They are very cheap these days about five or six dollars at Jewel or Walgreens.
