It is very important that you take good care of your teeth and gums in between your regular dental check-up appointments. Our caring dental staff will teach you how to maintain good oral hygiene habits. Ensuring you see your dentist twice a year for a check-up and clean will also help prevent any dental problems.

 

Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping the mouth and teeth clean in order to prevent dental problems and bad breath (halitosis). The following are general guidelines about flossing and brushing that you may find useful:

 Teeth cleaning

 

 

Teeth cleaning is the removal of dental plaque from teeth in order to prevent cavities and gum disease. Generally, dentists recommend that teeth be cleaned professionally at least twice per year. Professional cleaning includes tooth scaling, tooth polishing, and, if too much plaque and calculus has built up, debridement. This should be followed by a fluoride treatment, which also helps to prevent any post-operative sensitivity following the clean.

 

Between cleanings, good oral hygiene is essential for preventing plaque build-up which causes the problems mentioned above. This is done by carefully and frequently brushing the inside, outside and tops of your teeth with a soft toothbrush and also using dental floss to prevent accumulation of bacteria between the teeth.

 Tongue cleaning

 

 

 

Dental specialists recommend daily use of a tongue cleaner as an essential way to remove the debris coating the tongue. This debris is composed of a large variety of bacteria, oral fungi, decaying food particles and dead cells, that all together generate bad breath (halitosis) and may affect the health of teeth and gums (tooth decay, gingivitis and periodontitis).

 

 Flossing

 

 

The use of dental floss is an important element of oral hygiene, since it removes the dental plaque and the decaying food remains stuck between the teeth. Flossing for proper inter-dental cleaning is recommended at least once per day, preferably before bedtime, to help prevent receeding gums, gum disease, and cavities between the teeth. It should be an important part of your oral hygiene regime and yet this is the step that most people forget to do!

 

 Gum care

 

 

 

  

Massaging gums is generally recommended for good oral health. Remember to gently swipe over your gums when brushing your teeth to ensure nothing is caught at your gum-tooth interface. Your dentist will show you a good brushing technique when you come in for your check-up and clean. It is also helpful to use a daily mouthwash to ensure that your teeth and gums remain debris-free and healthy. Alcohol-free mouthwashes are gentle enough to use daily and for children.