Oral Hygiene

Brushing

You should brush your teeth for two minutes at a time at least two times each day. Position your tooth brush at a slight angle with the bristles pointing upward at the point where the gums and teeth meet. Move the brush in small circles or with a quick back and forth motion on each tooth. Use light pressure and soft bristled tooth brushes to avoid damaging soft tissue. Continue this process for front, back, and top surfaces of each tooth.

Oral Rinses

We may prescribe oral rinses to help reduce the number of bacteria in the mouth and promote the healing of your smile. You may also want to use an over the counter mouthwash, but please check for the American Dental Association seal of approval or ask your dentist for recommendations.  

Importance of Flossing

If you only cleaned 2/3 of your kitchen counters would you still want to prepare food on them? Probably not. If you only brush your teeth, you’re only cleaning 2/3 of the surfaces. That’s why flossing is so essential it’s the only way to clean the areas between the teeth. Flossing at least once a day is essential to ensure your teeth are completely free of decay causing plaque and tartar buildup.

Caring For Sensitive Teeth

You may experience some dental sensitivity following your treatment when ingesting hot or cold foods or drinks. Continue your regular oral hygiene routine, and this sensitivity should diminish within a few days of your treatment. If your dental sensitivity does not abate within a week of treatment or the discomfort is unbearable, please contact us. We’ll be happy to offer desensitizing products, or reexamine your smile for additional damage we may need to correct.

Choosing Oral Hygiene Products

If you’d like to use an electric toothbrush, we encourage you to use Phillips Sonicare. You may also want to consider using an interproximal toothbrush to clean between your teeth, especially if you have experienced gum disease in the past. These brushes look like small evergreen trees, and are inserted in the small area where two teeth diverge above the gum line. We can show you how to properly use these brushes at your dental checkup. We may also recommend prescription toothpastes and mouth rinses to improve your at home hygiene routine.