 Brushing and Flossing
The goal of brushing and flossing is to remove and disrupt plaque and
debris from your teeth. Brushing handles the easy to reach surfaces and
flossing gets at the places you can’t get to with a toothbrush.
Brush Basics
While the enamel of your teeth is the hardest substance in your body,
you can still damage it with incorrect brushing techniques. There are
a variety
of techniques, but the best involve a massaging motion with a soft-bristle
toothbrush for two to three minutes. Hard brushes and overly vigorous
brushing can wear your tooth enamel over time. Be sure to brush the area
at and below the gum line by holding the brush at a 45-degree angle.
Fluoride helps your tooth enamel remain hard and strong, so be sure
to use toothpaste with fluoride.
http://www.ladddental.com/BrushingTips.htm
Floss is the Boss
Dr. Kiss often says, “you don’t have to floss all of your
teeth; just the ones you want to keep.”
Up to 35% of the surface of your teeth cannot be reached with a toothbrush.
Some of this area is interproximal, or between the teeth, and the remainder
is below the gum line.
Dental floss is a fiber, usually nylon, which comes on a spool. We use
it to gently disturb or scrape the plaque between our teeth, particularly
near the gum line.
http://www.ladddental.com/FlossTipsM.htm
http://www.oralb.com/dentalpros/resources/patient_ed_handouts.asp
Fluoride
Fluoride is a naturally occuring element found in many
things, like the water we drink and the food we eat. The fluoride that
is absorbed by your body is used by the cells that build your
teeth
to make stronger enamel.
Topical fluoride, flouride that is applied to the outside of the enamel,
makes the crystals that form enamel more durable and much more resistant
to acid. They are less likely to breakdown and cause the tooth surface
to become porous.
Getting the right amount of fluoride is one of the
most important things you can do for their dental health. Flouride is
an amazingly powerful weapon in the battle against tooth decay and has
been shown to:
- Strengthen tooth enamel.
- Reduce the effects of plaque.
- Prevent cavities from developing.
- Limit the growth of existing cavities.
- Prevent cavities from forming at the roots of teeth when gums start
to recede.
Studies have shown that children who drink fluoridated water
from birth have 40 to 60 percent fewer cavities than those who don’t.
Fluoridated water, toothpaste and rinses are great sources of fluoride,
and dentists can apply topical fluoride or prescribe fluoride supplements
when needed. If your drinking water is not flouridated, it is more important
than ever to take active steps to get proper amounts of flouride. Feel
free to ask us about flouride and its role in your dental health.
Dental Hygienists
Dental hygienists are registered and certified health professionals
who specialize in preventing oral health problems and diseases. They
work with individual clients or communities to prevent tooth, gum and
mouth diseases and injuries that can affect overall health. In the world
of prevention and restoration, prevention is the key role of the hygienist.
When all is going well, you will such much more of your hygienist than
your dentist.
http://www.cdha.ca/content/oralcare_centre/oralcare_centre.asp
http://www.adha.org/kidstuff/games/visit/visiting.htm
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