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Oral Hygiene Basic Overview
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Know the Basics on Oral Hygiene
The
benefits of flossing are widely known and as a dentist who is dedicated to saving
teeth, I can't understate the need for daily flossing. It is often the make or
break issue in saving teeth.
Brushing
Brushing should be performed with a toothbrush and a fluoride toothpaste at least
twice a day and preferably after every meal and snack. Effective brushing must
clean each outer tooth surface, inner tooth surface, and the flat chewing surfaces
of the back teeth. To clean the outer and inner surfaces, the toothbrush should
be held at a 45-degree angle against the gums and moved back and forth in short
strokes (no more than one toothwidth distance).
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To clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, the toothbrush should be held
vertically and the bristles at the tip (called the toe of the brush) moved gently
up and down against each tooth. To clean the chewing surfaces of the large back
teeth, the brush should be held flat and moved back and forth. Finally, the tongue
should also be brushed using a back-to-front sweeping motion to remove food particles
and bacteria that may sour the breath.
Toothbrushes wear out and should be replaced every three months. Consumers should
look for toothbrushes with soft, nylon, rounded bristles in a size and shape that
allows them to reach all tooth surfaces easily. Holding a toothbrush may be difficult
for people with limited use of their hands. The toothbrush handle may be modified
by inserting it into a rubber ball for easier gripping.
Flossing
Flossing once a day helps prevent gum disease by removing food particles and plaque
at and below the gumline as well as between teeth.
To begin, most of an 18-in (45-cm) strand of floss is wrapped around the third
finger of one hand. A 1-in (2.5-cm) section is then grasped firmly between the
thumb and forefinger of each hand. The floss is eased between two teeth and worked
gently up and down several times with a rubbing motion.
At the gumline, the floss is curved first around one tooth and then the other
with gentle sliding into the space between the tooth and gum. After each tooth
contact is cleaned, a fresh section of floss is unwrapped from one hand as the
used section of floss is wrapped around the third finger of the opposite hand.
Flossing proceeds between all teeth and behind the last teeth. Flossing should
also be performed around the abutment (support) teeth of a bridge and under any
artificial teeth using a device called a floss threader.
Dental floss comes in many varieties (waxed, unwaxed, flavored, tape) and may
be chosen on personal preference.
As you can see, flossing isn’t easy from a technical standpoint. The FancyFloss
makes this difficult part of flossing–curving under the gumline–fast and easy.
Check our Use & Threading for more information.
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Oral Health Problems
Negative consequences arise from improper or infrequent
brushing and flossing. The five major oral health problems are plaque, tartar,
gingivitis, periodontitis, and tooth decay. Plaque is a soft, sticky, colorless
bacterial film that grows on the hard, rough surfaces of teeth. These bacteria
use the sugar and starch from food particles in the mouth to produce acid. Left
to accumulate, this acid destroys the outer enamel of the tooth, irritates the
gums to the point of bleeding, and produces foul breath.
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Terms
Calculus: A hardened yellow or brown mineral deposit from unremoved plaque;
also called tartar.
Cavity: A hole or weak spot in the tooth
surface caused by decay.
Gingivitis: Inflammation of the gums, seen as painless bleeding
during brushing and flossing.
Interdental: Between the teeth.
Periodontal: Pertaining to the gums.
Periodontitis: A gum disease that destroys the structures supporting
the teeth, including bone.
Plaque: A thin, sticky, colorless film of bacteria that forms
on teeth.
Tartar: A hardened yellow or brown mineral deposit from unremoved
plaque; also called calculus. |
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