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Your regularly scheduled check-up is
often referred to as a "cleaning", but there
is much more to it than that! The technical term is
oral prophylaxis, which means prevention of
oral disease.
One way to prevent oral disease is to
remove harmful plaque and tartar (calculus) both above
and below the gum line. You may also be given special
instructions on brushing or flossing to keep clean
the areas where we found significant buildup. That
is the familiar "cleaning" part of your
checkup.
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It's easy to tell which tooth has
been "cleaned" in this photo!
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Another way to prevent oral disease is by early
detection and treatment. During your checkup you will be screened
for many potential threats to your oral health, including:
In addition, some systemic diseases, such as diabetes, often
present themselves first inside the mouth, so early detection
extends beyond just oral disease.
Your Dental Hygienist is your first-line of defense against
oral disease. Your hygienist is a highly trained professional
who can evaluate your teeth and gums, both visually and with
the assistance of x-rays and other modern technology, to discover
threats to your oral or general health. Your dentist will
review the findings of your hygienist and advise you on any
threats to your oral or general health.
Waterpik
The waterpik is now available in a rechargeable, cordless
design. It is lightweight and comfortable for easy use. It
effectively washes away food debris and cleans and massages
the gums for a fresh feeling.
The waterpik has an easy to fill flip top reservoir. It comes
with 2 low pressure tips (blue color) for gentle cleaning
and 2 high pressure tips (grey color) for deep cleaning. The
tips rotate 360 degrees to reach all areas of the mouth. It
has a convenient, recharging power supply and will stay charged
for approximately 1 week depending on the use. It initially
needs to be charged for 16 hours prior to the first use.
The following are instructions on how to use the waterpik:
- Fill the reservoir with a solution such as water, Listerine,
or an antimicrobial rinse known as Perioguard as recommended.
- Next, attach the appropriate tip to be used. Usually the
blue colored, low pressure tip is used for general cleaning.
- Place the waterpik in your mouth and direct it on the
area of gums you wish to start and push the “on”
button to begin.
- Try to keep the waterpik in an upright position for best
results. It is recommended to keep it on each tooth for
about 5 seconds.
- Continue to move around your mouth until you have covered
all of the areas as needed.
The waterpik is great for cleaning around orthodontic appliances
(braces), for crown and bridgework, for accessing deep, periodontal
pockets, and for general cleaning purposes.
SulcaBrush
The sulcabrush is used to reduce gingivitis by stimulation
of the gums. It is angled differently on each end for better
access to all parts of the mouth.
Below are some helpful tips and instructions for the proper
technique:
- Place the end marked “outside” on the outer
edge of the gum line (cheek side) in between the teeth.
Angle the tip towards the gum line and gently massage the
area. Continue to move to the next tooth in the same manner.
- Continue to apply pressure on the gum line on the inside
of the mouth (palate/tongue side) using the end marked “inside”.
- The “inside” angle is also very effective for
reaching the area behind the last tooth.
- It may be recommended to dip the sulcabrush tip into a
solution such as Listerine, Act fluoride, or a prescription
anti-microbial known as Perioguard.
The sulcabrush is also excellent for cleaning around crowns,
bridges, orthodontic bands (braces), and tooth implants. If
it is used daily as directed, it should help stop the gums
from bleeding. Any bleeding or tenderness which may occur
initially may soon fade as the gum tissues become firm and
healthy.
Remove and replace the tips when the bristles are split or
get distorted. Also discard after being sick as the brush
will hold the bacteria in it Replacement tips for the sulcabrush
are no longer being distributed to the retail stores. However,
you are able to purchase them directly from the website www.sulcabrush.com.
Sonicare Electric Toothbrush
Studies have shown that the Sonicare is more effective than
a manual toothbrush when it comes to having better oral health.
This electric toothbrush will help you to brush longer and
also enable you to reach areas in your mouth that you normally
can’t with a manual toothbrush alone.
Some features of the Sonicare “elite” model are:
- Extra-soft, end-rounded bristles provide deep, but gentle
cleaning.
- New design has angled neck and a tapered brush head.
- 2 minute timer to ensure recommended brushing time.
- 30-second interval timer to brush each quadrant of your
mouth for equal amounts of time.
- Gently increases brushing power over the first 14 uses
to gradually get accustomed to the feel of the moving bristles.
Technique of the Sonicare:
- Beginning in the first quadrant, place brush directly
on tooth-do not place brush on the gums. (Due to the power
of the toothbrush, trauma can be caused if the brush is
placed directly on the gums)
- Slowly bring the brush around in a gentle manner. You
do not need to move the brush back and forth as you do with
a manual toothbrush. Due to the movement of the bristles,
it will cover all areas for you.
- Continue to brush the first quadrant, covering the outside,
inside and the top (chewing surface) of the teeth.
- After the first 30-seconds, you will hear a slight pause
and a “beep”. This will signal you to move on
to the next quadrant, therefore spending equal time on all
of the areas of your mouth.
We recommend that you use the Sonicare once a day and your
manual toothbrush once a day. In using the Sonicare, choose
the time of day where you have the most time, as proper technique
is very important.
Proxabrush
The use of the proxabrush will help to reduce gingivitis
(inflammation of the gums) by stimulation and will also aid
in the removal of plaque. It is also great for cleaning under
orthodontic wires.
The following are some helpful steps in the use of the proxabrush:
- The handle comes in either a single or double-ended style.
The inter-dental brush refills also come in a variety of
sizes and styles.
- To place the brush tip in the handle you must first press
on the latch to release it. You then insert the wire stem
of the brush into the small hole and snap the latch shut.
- You can dip the brush into several solutions that are
recommended such as Listerine, Act fluoride, or a prescription
antimicrobial known as Perioguard.
- When using as an inter-dental brush, place the brush in
between the teeth, making sure the brush is placed near
the gum-line, in contact with the gum-not into empty space.
- Gently take brush in and out to massage the gums.
- Do not push brush completely between teeth as this can
cause injury to the gums.
- Do this technique from the outside (cheek surface) and
the inside (tongue/palate surface) in the areas of inflammation.
Inter-dental brushes should be removed and replaced 1 time
per week if being used daily. If the proxabrush is used daily
as directed, it should help stop the gums from bleeding and
reduce inflammation. You may experience bleeding or tenderness
initially but this will fade as the gum tissues become firm
and healthy. You can find proxabrushes in your local retail
store.
Manual Toothbrushing
Proper tooth-brushing helps decrease the risk of tooth decay
and gum disease, the major causes of tooth loss.
Always use a soft-bristle brush and a mild, ADA-accepted
fluoride toothpaste to remove plaque and food particles.
Replace your toothbrush every 3 months or after you have
been sick because the brush will harbor bacteria.
The following are some steps to help aid in better tooth-brushing:
- On outer and inner surfaces, brush at a 45 degree angle
in a gently circular motion against the gum line.
- On chewing surfaces, hold the toothbrush flat and brush
back and forth.
- On inside surfaces of front teeth, tilt the brush vertically
and use gentle up and down strokes with the toe of the brush.
- Brush the tongue in a back-to-front sweeping motion to
remove food particles and to freshen your mouth.
Flossing
Flossing is an important part of the tooth-cleaning process
because it removes plaque from between teeth and at the gum-line,
where periodontal disease usually begins. Establish a regular
time and pattern for flossing so that you don’t miss
any of your teeth.
Below are some helpful tips and instructions for the proper
flossing technique:
- Wrap approximately 18” of floss around middle fingers
of each hand. Pinch floss between thumbs and index fingers,
leaving a 1”-2” length in between. Use thumbs
to direct floss between upper teeth.
- Keep a 1”-2” length of floss taut between fingers.
Use index fingers to guide floss between contacts of the
lower teeth.
- Gently glide floss between the teeth by using a zig-zag
motion. DO NOT snap floss between your teeth. This can cause
injury to the gums. Instead, wrap floss around the side
of the tooth in a C-shape.
- Slide floss up and down against the tooth surface and
under the gumline. Floss each tooth thoroughly with a clean
section of floss.
Don’t be discouraged with your first attempt. Flossing
is a skill that is learned and after a while, it will take
only a few minutes of your time.
Your gums may bleed and be sore for the first few days that
you floss, the bleeding should stop once all the bacteria
are removed.
If you do not have good finger dexterity, there are a variety
of dental floss holders and aids or inter-dental cleaning
devices that are available. These can be found in most drug
stores or grocery/retail stores.
Floss Threaders
Floss threaders are designed to assist you in getting dental
floss under bridges, orthodontic appliances (braces and fixed
permanent retainers), and between connected crowns.
Here are some helpful tips in the use of floss threaders:
- Start with about 18” of floss.
- Pull 4”-5” of floss through loop of threader
(almost like threading a needle).
- Take floss threader through space between teeth or under
appliance.
- Once under, floss as you normally would to remove plaque
or food particles. Pull threader through when completed
and repeat as needed.
There are different styles of floss threaders that can be
found in the stores. Another type has the floss already attached
to the threader. Check your local retail store in the dental
aisle for your dental needs.
End Tuft
The end tuft brush, because of its size, is designed for
use in hard to reach or problem areas. These areas include
wisdom teeth or behind the tooth that is furthest back. It
also works well at cleaning behind the lower front teeth due
to the narrow angulation of the mouth.
After brushing with a regular toothbrush, simply use the end
tuft afterwards to help clean these areas that are difficult.
You can use toothpaste if you choose although it is not necessary.
The end tuft brush should be replaced every 3 months or sooner
if it starts to lose its shape. It should also be replaced
after being sick as it will harbor the bacteria. The end tuft
can be found in retail stores in the dental aisle.
Dry Mouth (Xerostomia) & Products
Dry mouth, also known as Xerostomia, happens gradually and
often goes unnoticed. Without the saliva’s natural protection
you are at risk of increasing your chances of dental cavities.
The most common cause of dry mouth is medication. For a complete
list, you may check on the website www.laclede.com.
Dry mouth can also be caused by diseases and other conditions
such as Diabetes, Sjogren’s syndrome, Chemotherapy, Radiation
Therapy, Hypertension, and mouth breathing.
Some signs of dry mouth include the following:
- Cracked lips
- Bad breath
- Mouth sores
- A dry, rough tongue
- Cavities
- Red, bleeding gums
The best way to treat dry mouth is to find out what’s
causing it and take steps to decrease it. Although there is
no single way to treat dry mouth, there are ways to help you
feel more comfortable by the use of some dry mouth products.
Some dry mouth products include the following:
- BIOTENE-- original toothpaste, mouthwash and dry mouth
gum
- BIOTENE Oral Balance-- moisturizing gel and dry mouth
liquid
- SALIVART--oral moisturizer spray
- SENSODYNE--Oasis mouthwash and mouth spray
- TOM’S OF MAINE--fluoride mouthwash for dry mouth
- SPRY--toothpaste, oral rinse, gum and mints
- ORAJEL--dry mouth moisturizing toothpaste
These products can be found in your local retail store in
the dental aisle. If you have any further questions please
contact our office at (301) 948-1212.
Disclosing Tablets
Disclosing tablets are a product that lets you see how well
you are brushing and flossing your teeth.
Dental plaque is a sticky, invisible film that sticks to
all surfaces of the teeth, including the spaces between the
teeth and under the gums. Plaque constantly forms on the teeth
and needs to be removed every day.
When used properly, these products stain plaque that was
missed while brushing and flossing. Examining for dental plaque
helps you see how thoroughly and efficiently you are brushing
and flossing your teeth. This can help you take better care
of your teeth and improve the cleaning of your mouth.
Instructions:
- First you will brush and floss your teeth.
- Chew a disclosing tablet and allow it to mix with your
saliva. Swish the mixture around in your mouth for about
30 seconds and then spit it out.
- Gently rinse your mouth with water, and examine your teeth
for plaque that has been colored with the dye. Your gums
may also be stained and appear redder than usual.
- If you find stained plaque, brush and floss again until
it is gone.
After you’ve used the disclosing tablets, your mouth
and tongue may be temporarily stained for as long as a day
with a harmless dye. Many people use the tablets at bedtime
so that the stain left in their mouths can fade overnight.
Some disclosing tablets produce a bright red stain, which
can stain clothing. Be sure to read the package instructions
for any other precautions. Some disclosing products contain
dyes and people with allergies to dyes should check the product
contents carefully.
Use this product regularly until you find no areas of stain
after you brush and floss.
Once you have developed good brushing habits, you may want
to test for plaque once a month to be sure you are maintaining
your good habits. Disclosing tablets can be found in your
local retail store in the dental aisle.
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