Dental Care Tips

Dental Care Tips

When you consider the high cost of poor Dental Hygiene, includingcavities, fillings, or a Dental Care Tips rootcanal, it makes much more sense to follow basic dental care and hygienetips and keep your teeth healthy.

Preventative care, including basic brushing and flossing, sealant,and regular visits to the dentist every six months, is much less expensivethan having to pay to fix cavities.

Last Updated - 31st October 2005

Dental Tips

Have a dental checkup at LEAST EVERY 6 MONTHS.
Brush at least twice a day with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
Use floss every day.
Use a proxybrush daily
Use a anti-microbial mouth rinse to control gingivitis.
Use a topical application of fluoride for dry mouth
If your gums bleed when you brush or eat see your dentist
If you have a bad taste in your mouth see your dentist
Tell your dentist any problems you are having in your mouth.
Smoking makes your gums worse, quit.
Tell your dentist you have concerns about your oral health
Ask your dentist to education you on good our health.
People with diabetes get gum disease more often.
Gum infections make it hard to control blood sugar.
Once a gum infection starts it takes a long time to heal it.
If the infection is severe, you can loose your teeth.
Keeping your own teeth is important for healthy eating.
Natural teeth help you chew foods better and easier than dentures.
Check the fit of your dentures yearly to prevent sores.
See you dentist regularly for dental and periodontal exams
Try using a three-sided toothbrush that cleans all surfaces.

Brushing Tips

Use a soft bristled brush, preferably one with rounded,synthetic bristles.

Replace your toothbrush approximately every two tothree months or as soon as the bristles are worn or bent. A worn-outtoothbrush does not clean your teeth properly, and may actually injureyour gums.

You should also replace your toothbrush after you'vehad a cold.

Be sure your brush is the right size (in general,smaller is better than larger).

Place the bristles at a 45 degree angle to the gumline, and slide the tips of the brush under the gums.

Gently jiggle the bristles or move it in small circlesover the tooth and gums.

Brush the outside, the inside, and the chewing surfacesof your teeth. For chewing surfaces, use a light back and forth motion.

For the front teeth, brush the inside surfaces ofthe upper and lower jaws: Tilt your brush vertically and make severalstrokes up and down with the front part of the brush over the teethand gum tissues.

Brushing your tongue will help freshen your breath.Debris and bacteria can collect on your tongue and cause bad breath.

Since your toothbrush will only clean one or two teethat a time, change its position to clean each tooth properly.

Brush at least once every day, preferably at bedtime.Adding a brush time after breakfast increases your chances of thoroughdaily plaque removal.

Take your time: A thorough brushing should take atleast 3 minutes.

Don't brush your teeth too vigorously, and don't usea hard bristled toothbrush, since it causes the gums to recede andexposes root surfaces. It also wears down the tooth structure. Bothof these conditions can lead to tooth sensitivity.

A pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste is sufficient.

Replace your brush when the bristles begin to spread,as a worn out toothbrush will not properly clean your teeth.

Flossing Tips

Wrap about 18 inches of floss around the middle fingersof your hands.

Hold the floss tightly, using your thumbs and forefingers,and gently guide it between your teeth.

Don't "snap" the floss as this can cut thegums!

When the floss reaches the gum line , curve it intoa C-shape against one tooth and gently slide it into the space betweenthe gum and the tooth until you feel pressure against the tooth.

Gently scrape the side of the tooth with the floss.

Repeat this method on all your teeth.

Move to a clean area of floss after one or two teeth.

Dental care - tips if teeth areknocked out

If permanent teeth are knocked out, there is an excellentchance that they will survive if they are immediately placed backin the tooth socket and dental advice is sought straight away. Everyminute the tooth is out of the socket, the less chance it has of surviving.

First aid for permanent teeth knocked out -

Handle the tooth by the crown not the root.
Gently rinse the tooth in milk or normal salinesolution if it has debris on it. Rinse for a few seconds only.
Replace the tooth in its socket, if the personis conscious - make sure it is facing the right way around.
Hold the tooth in place with some foil or by gettingthe victim to gently bite on a handkerchief.
Contact your dentist immediately.
If you can't put the tooth in its socket Wrapit in glad wrap or store it in milk or normal saline solution.
Do not try and clean the tooth with vigorous scrubbingor cleaning agents.
You should not attempt to put a milk tooth backin its socket as it may fuse to the socket, which leads to difficultieswhen it is time for the tooth to be shed. It may damage the permanenttooth underneath the socket.

Child Care - Dental Tips

BRUSHING TIPS

Start brushing your child's teeth as soon asthey come in.
Brush your child's teeth for the first 4 to 5years until your child seems able to do it alone.
A good teaching method is to have your childbrush in the morning and you brush at night until your child mastersthe skill.

FLOSSING TIPS

Start flossing your child's teeth as soon as theytouch each other.

DIET TIPS

Avoid high-sugar foods, especially sticky, sweetfoods like taffy and raisins. The longer sugar stays in touchwith your teeth, the more damage it can do. Don't snack beforebedtime. Food is more likely to cause cavities at night becausesalivan doesn't clean the mouth as well at night.
Cheeses, peanuts, yogurt, milk and sugar-freegum are good for your teeth. They can help clear the mouth ofharmful sugars and reduce plaque formation.

OTHER - If yourlocal water supply does not contain enough fluoride, your child mayneed a fluoride supplement.