Why is good oral hygiene so important? Periodontal disease is the major cause of tooth loss in adults, affecting three out of four people at some point in their life. The best way to prevent periodontal disease and tooth decay and keep your teeth for a lifetime is through brushing, flossing and regular dental visits that include a periodontal evaluation. The main cause of periodontal disease and tooth decay is bacterial plaque. Plaque is a sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth and gums. By carefully removing the plaque through daily brushing and flossing, you can help prevent periodontal disease.
By retaining your natural teeth, you reap the benefits of better health. You are able to chew more comfortably and enjoy better digestion. You may have a healthy, attractive smile, a natural asset to your appearance. You may speak more comfortably, adding confidence to your social and business conversations. Good oral hygiene doesn't just protect your health, it also saves you money. By preventing dental problems, you can keep dental care costs to a minimum. And it takes about ten minutes - less time than shaving or applying makeup. With all these benefits, brushing and flossing are an essential part of a healthy, happy lifestyle.
Begin with the right equipment - a soft-bristled toothbrush that allows you to reach every surface of each tooth. If the bristles on your toothbrush are bent or frayed, buy a new one. A worn-out brush won't clean your teeth properly. To clean the outside surfaces of all your teeth position the brush at a 45-degree angle where your gums and teeth meet. Gently move the brush in a circular motion several times using short, gentle strokes. Apply light pressure to get the bristles between the teeth, but do not use so much pressure that you feel discomfort. After cleaning the outside surfaces of all your teeth, use the same method on the inside of the back teeth. Move the brush in short, gentle but firm strokes, keeping it angled against the gum line. To clean the inside surfaces of the upper and lower front teeth, hold the brush vertically. Make several gentle back-and-forth strokes over each tooth and its surrounding gum tissue. To clean the biting surfaces of your teeth, use short, gentle strokes. Since the toothbrush can clean only one or two teeth at a time, change the position of the brush as often as necessary to reach and clean all tooth surfaces. Watch yourself in a mirror to make sure you cover each surface. After brushing, rinse vigorously to remove loosened plaque. If you have any discomfort while brushing or have questions about how to brush properly, be sure to talk to your dental care provider.
Periodontal disease occurs primarily between the teeth where a toothbrush can't reach. Since flossing is a very effective way to clean plaque from those surfaces, it's important to develop the proper technique. The following instructions will guide you, but flossing is a skill that takes time and practice. Ask your dental care provider to show you how to floss comfortably and correctly. He or she may recommend one of a number of flossing tools to help you. Begin with a piece of waxed or un-waxed floss about 18 inches long. Lightly wrap most of the floss around the middle finger of one hand. Wrap the rest of the floss around the middle finger of the opposite hand. To clean the upper teeth, hold the floss tightly between the thumb and forefinger of each hand. The fingers controlling the floss should be no more than one half inch apart. Gently insert the floss between the teeth, using a back-and-forth motion. Do not force the floss or snap it into place. Guide the floss to the gum line. Curve the floss into a C-shape against one tooth. Slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth until you feel light resistance. Using both hands, move the floss up and down on the side of one tooth. Remember, there are two tooth surfaces that need to be cleaned in each space. Repeat this technique on each side of all the upper teeth. As the floss becomes frayed or soiled, a turn from one middle finger to the other will bring up a fresh section. To clean between the bottom teeth, you will find it easier to guide the floss using the forefinger of both hands. Don't forget the backside of the last tooth on both sides, upper and lower. Rinse vigorously with water after flossing to remove the plaque and food particles. For the first week of flossing your gums may bleed or be sore. As you daily remove the plaque, your gums will heal and the bleeding should stop. If the bleeding does not stop within a few days, talk to your periodontist.
To find out if your teeth are clean, that is, free of plaque, you can use a disclosing tablet or solution available at your local drugstore. (Disclosing tablets and liquids are made from harmless vegetable dyes that temporarily stain plaque in your mouth.) Chew the disclosing tablet until it dissolves. Swish vigorously and empty your mouth. Rinse with water. Now look at your teeth in a mirror. The stains will indicate areas where plaque is still present. Those areas probably need attention when you brush and floss. Gently brush and floss the stained areas until the dye is gone. After dental treatment, teeth are often sensitive to hot and cold. This usually is temporary; lasting a few weeks or months, but only if the mouth is kept free of bacterial plaque. If the mouth is not kept clean, the sensitivity will remain and become more severe. If your teeth are especially sensitive, consult with your periodontist. He or she may recommend a medicated toothpaste or mouth rinse made specifically for sensitive teeth.
A wide variety of oral hygiene products are currently on the market. When you face a supermarket aisle stocked with toothbrushes, floss, mouth rinses and other dental products, you may find selection difficult. Here are some guidelines for choosing dental care products - what works for most patients most of the time. To find out what's best for your particular needs, talk to your periodontist. In addition to manual toothbrushes, your choices include automatic toothbrushes and “high-tech” electronic toothbrushes. These are safe and effective for the majority of patients. Oral irrigators (water spraying devices) will thoroughly rinse your mouth, but will not remove plaque from your teeth unless used in conjunction with brushing and flossing. Another aid is the rubber tip, often found on the handle end of a toothbrush, used to massage the gums after brushing and flossing. Other options include interproximal toothbrushes (tiny brushes that clean between teeth) and interdental cleaners (small sticks or picks that remove plaque between teeth). If used improperly, these dental aids can injure the gums, so it is important to discuss proper use with your periodontist. Fluoride toothpastes and mouth rinses, used in conjunction with brushing and flossing, can reduce tooth decay as much as 40 percent. So, fluoride products are a good buy. However, mouth rinses are not recommended for children under six. Children should use only a pea-sized dab of fluoride toothpaste on the brush to avoid fluoride overdosing. Tartar control toothpastes will reduce tartar (a buildup of hardened plaque, also called dental calculus) above the gum line. Because gum disease starts below the gum line, tartar control toothpastes have not been proven to reduce gingivitis, the early stage of gum diseases. However, they may offer cosmetic benefit. Anti-plaque rinses, approved by the American Dental Association, contain chemical agents that may help bring early gum disease under control. These rinses can be a helpful addition to brushing and flossing. Again, your periodontist is the best person to help you select the dental products that are right for you.
Daily brushing and flossing will keep the formation of dental calculus to a minimum, but it won't completely prevent it. A professional cleaning will remove hardened calculus in places that your toothbrush and floss have missed. Regular periodontal visits are an important part of your oral hygiene program to prevent gum disease and keep your teeth for a lifetime.
1995 copyright. The American Academy of Periodontology
For more information on Periodontal Surgery and the American Academy of Periodontology visit www.perio.org
