Preventative Care and Oral Hygiene
Preventive dentistry focuses on preventing the dental treatment that may be required as a result of the damaging effects of tooth decay and gum disease. It involves a joint effort between patient and dentist. A thorough examination (focusing on teeth and gums) is necessary. Often x-rays are also necessary. These help us to see cavities between the teeth, leaking fillings, calculus below the gum and receding bone levels. We may need to do a saliva test and dietary analysis as part of this examination.
Preventive measures include:
- Modification of oral hygiene habits. This includes brushing and flossing.
- The use of home fluoride.
- Laser pit and fissure sealants.
- Dietary modifications. This involves limiting between meal sugary snacks and intake of acidic drinks.
- Stopping drinking.
- Measures to improve the quality of saliva.
- Wearing a mouth guard.
A program that is specific for you will be provided to help keep your teeth and gums healthy:
- Brush your teeth twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste.
- Floss daily.
- Cut down on sugary snacks and drinks between meals.
- Visit your dentist at least twice a year.
Oral Hygiene Instruction
How to brush:
- Place the bristles of the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle against the gumline.
- Brush each tooth in a gentle circular motion. Make sure to brush the outer, inner and chewing surfaces.
- When cleaning the backs of you front teeth, use the tip of the brush in an up and down motion.
- Spend 3 minutes brushing your teeth.
- Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and help freshen your breath.
How to floss:
- Use a fairly long piece of floss and loosely wind it around each middle finger (wrap more around 1 finger than the other) leaving about 3cm between your fingers.
- Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers and gently slide it between the teeth. Do not snap it into the gums.
- Curve the floss around each tooth and gently move it up and down
the side of the tooth and into the space between the tooth and gum.
When you move onto the next tooth, unwind a new sections of floss.
