The primary goal of San Diego Dentist Association members for each patient is a lifelong beautiful, healthy smile – and your goal for your dental and oral health is probably along those lines too. The key to a fetching, functional smile with teeth and gums at their best is good home care. It’s crucial that you take care of your teeth between dental visits, and that includes eating well, good oral care, and much more.
A good home care regimen should include the following:
Brushing. Teeth must be brushed twice a day with an ADA-approved soft bristle brush. The most important time to brush is before bed. Proper brushing includes:
- Holding the brush at a 45-degree near the gums and brushing in small circles. Bristles should maintain contact with the gums for the best cleaning and massage of the gums and improved health of gum tissue.
- Carefully brushing inner and outer surfaces as well as the biting surfaces of every tooth.
- Thoroughly brushing your tongue to get rid of bacteria that causes decay and bad breath.
- Using an electric toothbrush if you want a much more effective way to remove plaque and debris. They’re easy to use, more fun than a regular toothbrush, and can clean several teeth at once.
Ozone-infused water. Using oxygenated water to kill bacteria, prevent and perhaps even reverse gum disease is recommended for everyone and is essential for those with compromised oral health or a history of gum disease. A 1000 mgh ozone unit can infuse water in the reservoir of any brand of water flosser, and that water can then be used for gum and oral irrigation. Home ozonizing units can be purchased from SDDA dentists.
Flossing. Brushing cleans much of a tooth’s surface, but it doesn’t get between teeth and under the gumline where bacteria can take its toll. Flossing gets into those areas to get rid of stubborn plaque and bacteria so it can’t damage teeth and gums. Here’s how to floss correctly:
- Wrap approximately 18 inches of dental floss around the middle fingers, leaving about 2 inches between them as the working section.
- Guide the floss gently between teeth using forefingers as your guide. A sawing motion works best, being careful not to cut into gums but to clean the full length of the tooth.
- Pull the floss into a c-shape as you clean around the sides of the tooth as much as possible.
- If you find this difficult, consider using dental tape, a floss holder, or dental picks, which work nearly as well and are much easier to use.
Rinsing. After brushing and flossing, rinsing with regular or ozonated water helps further remove plaque, bacteria, and remaining food particles. Rinsing is also crucial after every snack or meal, whether you take the time to also brush or not. An over-the-counter mouthwash is great for rinsing for most people, but your dentist may recommend something else in certain circumstances.
Other things your dentist suggests. Your dentist may suggest the use of a tongue cleaner, rubber tip stimulator, interdental brush, oral irrigator or medicated rinse. These are recommended for specific purposes and should not be forgotten.
For a dental appointment and to learn more about home care, reach out to a San Diego Dentist Association member now.
If you would like professional help with your oral hygiene, call us at (619) 745-6870.