One of the greatest services the Gentle Dental team can offer you is education. Once you understand your current condition, we can help you establish a home care routine specifically for you that can help you maintain or achieve a healthy smile.
Establishing a daily home care routine will contribute to good oral hygiene, therefore reducing the possibility of decay and periodontal disease. Your routine, combined with good nutrition, will enable you to keep that beautiful smile.
- Flossing: using the correct flossing technique will allow you to remove plaque, prevent cavities and maintain healthy gum tissue. Wrap about 12 inches of floss between your index fingers leaving two to three inches between your fingers. Establish a pattern and starting point in your mouth. Place the floss between your teeth and wrap it around the tooth in the shape of the letter C. Firmly clean both sides of the teeth and under the gums with a wrapping downward motion.
- Fluoride: we may instruct you to use fluoride as part of your routine to help reduce the amount of decay. After completion of your home care, place a small amount of fluoride on your toothbrush. Brush all over or concentrate on a specific area. Expectorate but do not rinse. Do not eat, drink or rinse for at least 30 minutes following the application.
- Dry Brushing: for the dry brushing technique, a soft, dry toothbrush is needed. Place the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle along the gum line and gently work the bristles under the gums using a ‘jab and jingle’ motion. Make sure you brush the insides and chewing surfaces as well.
- Paste Brushing: place a small amount of toothpaste on your brush. Begin by placing the brush at a 90 degree angle against the side of the tooth. Do small circular motions against the tooth. Continue around your mouth until completed. Always remember the insides and chewing surfaces, as well as your tongue.
- Stimudents: stimudents are designed to stimulate blood flow and carry germs away from the tissues and bone surrounding the teeth while massaging the gums. Begin by moistening the stimudent between the lips as you would a toothpick. Hold the stimudent between your thumb and forefinger and place the stimudent between the teeth with the flat surface against the gums until you meet resistance. Release your hold for a second to allow the stimudent to redirect its path. Apply firm pressure against the gum and with an in and out motion move the stimudent between the teeth three or four times. Your gums may be tender and bleed at first. Bleeding is a sign the tissues are weak and need to be strengthened. However, if stimudents are used regularly and enough pressure is applied the bleeding and tenderness should be gone in one week’s time.
- Waterpik: Insert the tip into the mouth and turn on the unit. The water stream should be directly horizontally between the teeth. Start at a low speed and work your way to medium but never use on the highest setting. Establish a pattern remembering to use on both the top and bottom, inside and out.
- Sonicare: Hold the brush at a 45 degree angle along the gum line with a light fingertip grip. Gently move the vibrating brush head in a circular motion. Hold in the area for a few seconds and continue on to all areas of the mouth. Remember to apply light pressure and allow the Sonicare to do the work. The Sonicare will automatically turn off after two minutes, but feel free to turn it back on for additional time. You may also brush your tongue with brush on or off. You may experience tingling at first, but that sensation will diminish with continued use.