The How To's of Oral Hygiene!!!!!!

Oral Hygiene for a Healthy Mouth and Gums!

One of the easiest ways to help prevent gum disease is to brush and floss every day, so therefore it is very important to know the correct way to take care of your teeth and gums. It does not matter if you brush first or floss first, as long as you do both.  In addition, you may want to add a waterflosser and tongue scraper to your daily routine. New research tells us that plaque biofilms are very difiicult to remove from the oral environment. These biofilms are very sticky and are retained on the surface of the tongue and  sometimes between the teeth after routine oral hygiene.

Equipment

Frayed or bent bristles....time to replace

The most commonly used toothbrush is the manual toothbrush. Another option is the electric toothbrush, which uses electrical power to move the brush head. The resulting vibrations that
are created gently clean the teeth. It is important to always choose a soft brush head when using either a manual or electric toothbrush, and to replace the toothbrush when the bristles begin to bend(or every two to three months).

According to a recent study in the Journal of Periodontology, all dental flosses are equally effective. This means that it does not matter which type of floss you choose to use. There are many
different varieties of floss, including waxed, unwaxed, flavored, and shred-resistant, so
there is a type of floss out there for everyone!

Waterflossers (waterpiks) are experiencing a resurgence in today's dental care routine as an adjunct in removing the plaque biofilm from between the teeth. There are many companies providing waterflosser's, we have found that the "Waterpik" is a reliable brand with many different tips designed to help clean braces, implants and periodontal pockets.

Scraping the tongue removes the furry film that harbors bacteria which can migrate to the teeth and gums, reducing the effectiveness of your brushing and flossing routine. Also, it may contain sulfur compounds that cause persistent halitosis (bad breath). Tongue scrapers are available in many different styles. Ultimately, it doesn't matter what type you choose, as they all offer the same result by gently removing the bacteria buried in your tongue's hairy surface in one easy step.

How to Brush

Position the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle where your gums and teeth meet. While applying
slight pressure, gently move the brush in a circular vibration motion using short strokes. Use this method to clean the front of your teeth, then move to the back of your teeth, then the biting surfaces, and then your tongue, using the same gentle movements. Sometimes it is necessary to change your head position by tilting or turning to the left or right to get better access to your front and back teeth. Your goal should be to remove the sticky plaque biofilm (bacteria) from the all surfaces of your teeth especially the at the gumline. Be sure you are constantly moving the brush head to avoid damaging your gums!

How to Floss

Using about 18 inches of floss, wrap the floss around your middle finger. Wrap the rest around your other middle finger, leaving 2-3 inches of floss between your hands. While tightly holding the floss between your thumbs and/or forefingers, insert it between two teeth. As you place the floss you will Curve the floss into a “C” shape against the tooth, and gently slide it up and down while maintaining about a 1 inch space between your fingers. Do this sliding motion 5 times  Then, with the floss still in between the two teeth, switch the “C” shape against the adjacent tooth, and repeat the sliding motion. Move to the next tooth over,  and repeat the
 process, unwrapping fresh floss from your middle finger as you go.

Waterflossing

Fill the reservoir with warm water (studies show that medicaments offer no significant clinical benefit when waterflossing). Select the appropriate tip. Select the pressure setting, for new users start with low pressure and gradually increase the pressure over time to allow your gum tissue to build up a tolerance for the higher pressure settings. Lean over the sink, keeping your lips closed to prevent splashing. Start with the back teeth and pause briefly between teeth. Aim the tip just above the gumline at a 90 degree angle. Never angle below the gum with a high pressure stream! There are many tips to choose from, check with your hygienist for special instruction around implants, braces and periodontal pockets!

Tongue Scraping

Stick your tongue out as far as you can. Place the scraper as far back on your tongue as you comfortably can. Then drag the scraper slowly and gently forward. Then repeat. You're done, it's as simple as that!

For more information on brushing
and flossing techniques, to learn
other ways to prevent gum
disease, visit perio.org.