Home Care

A beautiful, healthy smile that lasts a lifetime is our ultimate goal for every patients. Eating balanced meals, reducing the number of snacks you eat and correctly using various dental aids to control the plaque and bacteria that cause dental disease all play an important role in your personal home care.

Brushing

Brush your teeth at least twice a day (especially before going to bed at night) with an ADA approved soft bristle toothbrush and toothpaste.

  1. Place the brush at a 45 degree angle to the gums and gently brush using small circular motions, ensuring that you always feel the bristles on the gums.
  2. Brush the outer, inner and biting surfaces of each tooth.
  3. Use the tip of the brush to clean the inside of the front teeth.
  4. Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.

Electric toothbrushes are also recommended. They are easy to use and effectively remove plaque. Simply place the bristles of the electric brush on your gums and teeth and allow the brush to do its job several teeth at a time.

Flossing

Daily flossing is the best way to clean between your teeth and under the gumline. Flossing not only helps clean these spaces, it prevents plaque colonies from building up, averting damage to the gums, teeth and bone.

  1. Take 12-16 inches of dental floss and wrap it around your middle fingers, leaving about 2 inches of floss between the hands.
  2. Using your thumbs and forefingers to guide the floss, gently insert the floss between teeth using a sawing motion.
  3. Curve the floss into a “C” shape around each tooth. Gently move the floss up and down, cleaning the side of each tooth and under the gum line.

Floss holders are recommended if you have difficulty using conventional floss.

Rinsing

It is important to rinse your mouth with water after brushing, and also after meals if you are unable to brush. If you are using an over-the-counter product for rinsing, it’s a good idea to consult with your dentist or dental hygienist on its appropriateness for you.

Using other dental aids as recommended by your dentist or dental hygienist (interdental brushes, rubber tip stimulators, tongue cleaners, irrigation devices, fluoride, medicated rinses, etc.) can all play a role in good dental home care.