FAQ
Preventive Dentistry
Facts on Brushing
What is the best technique for brushing? There are a number of effective
brushing techniques. Patients are advised to check with their dentist or
hygienist to determine which is the best one for them since tooth position and
gum condition vary. One effective, easy-to-remember technique involves using a
circular or elliptical motion to brush a couple of teeth at a time, gradually
covering the entire mouth. Place a toothbrush beside your teeth at a 45-degree
angle and gently brush teeth in an elliptical motion. Brush the outside of the
teeth, inside the teeth, your tongue and the chewing surfaces and in between
teeth. Using a back and forth motion causes the gum surface to recede, or can
expose the root surface or make the root surface tender. You also risk wearing
down the gum line.
Soft or hard bristles?
In general, a toothbrush head should be small (1" by 1/2") for easy
access. It should have a long, wide handle for a firm grasp. It should have
soft, nylon bristles with round ends. Some brushes are too abrasive and can
wear down teeth. A soft, rounded, multi-tufted brush can clean teeth effectively.
Press just firmly enough to reach the spaces between the teeth as well as the
surface. Medium and hard bristles are not recommended.
How long should I brush?
It might be a good idea to brush with the radio on, since dentists generally
recommend brushing 3-4 minutes, the length of an average song. Using an egg
timer is another way to measure your brushing time. Patients generally think
they're brushing longer, but most spend less than a minute brushing. To make
sure you're doing a thorough job and not missing any spots, patients are
advised to brush the full 3-4 minutes twice a day instead of brushing quickly
five or more times through the day.
Should I brush at work?
Definitely, but most Americans don't brush during the workday. Dentists say it's
a good idea to keep a toothbrush in your desk, which increases the chances that
you'll brush during the day by 65 percent, according to a recent survey
released by Oral-B Laboratories and the Academy of General Dentistry. Getting
the debris off teeth right away stops sugary snacks from turning to damaging
acids, and catches starchy foods like potato chips before they turn to
cavity-causing sugar. If you brush with fluoride toothpaste in the morning and
before going to bed, you don't even need to use toothpaste at work. You can
just brush and rinse before heading back to the desk. If you don't have a
toothbrush, rinsing your mouth with water for 30 seconds after lunch also
helps.
The
following tips may improve your work-time brushing habits:
Post a sticky note on your desk or computer at work as a reminder to brush
teeth after lunch. Brush teeth right after lunch, before you become absorbed in
work. Store your toothbrush and toothpaste at work in a convenient and handy
place. Make brushing your teeth part of your freshening up routine at work.
Facts on
Flossing
Plaque is a sticky layer of material containing germs that accumulates on
teeth, including places where toothbrushes can't reach. This can lead to gum
disease. The best way to get rid of plaque is to brush and floss your teeth
carefully every day. The toothbrush cleans the tops and sides of your teeth.
Dental floss cleans in between them. Some people use waterpiks, but floss is
the best choice.
Should I floss?
Yes. Floss removes plaque and debris that adhere to teeth and gums in between
teeth, polishes tooth surfaces, and controls bad breath. Floss is the single
most important weapon against plaque, perhaps more important than the
toothbrush. Many people just don't spend enough time flossing or brushing and
many have never been taught to floss or brush properly. When you visit your
dentist or hygienist, ask to be shown.
Which type of floss
should I use?
Dental floss comes in many forms: waxed and unwaxed, flavored and unflavored,
wide and regular. Wide floss, or dental tape, may be helpful for people with a
lot of bridgework. Tapes are usually recommended when the spaces between teeth
are wide. They all clean and remove plaque about the same. Waxed floss might be
easier to slide between tight teeth or tight restorations. However, the unwaxed
floss makes a squeaking sound to let you know your teeth are clean. Bonded
unwaxed floss does not fray as easily as regular unwaxed floss, but does tear
more than waxed floss.
How should I floss?
There are two flossing
methods: the spool method and the loop method. The spool method
is suited for those with manual dexterity. Take an 18-inch piece of floss and
wind the bulk of
the floss lightly around the middle finger. (Don't cut off your finger's
circulation!)
Wind the rest of the floss similarly around the same finger of the opposite
hand. This finger takes up the floss as it becomes soiled or frayed. Maneuver
the floss between teeth with your index fingers and thumbs. Don't pull it down
hard against your gums or you will hurt them.
Don't rub it side to side as if you're shining shoes. Bring the floss up and
down several times forming a "C" shape around the tooth being sure to
go below the gum line.
The loop method is suited for children or adults with less nimble hands, poor
muscular coordination or arthritis. Take an 18-inch piece of floss and make it
into a circle. Tie it securely with three knots. Place all of the fingers,
except the thumb, within the loop. Use your index fingers to guide the floss
through the lower teeth, and use your thumbs to guide the floss through the
upper teeth, going below the gumline forming a "C" on the side of the
tooth.
How often should I
floss?
At least once a day. To give your teeth a good flossing, spend at least two or
three minutes.
What about floss
holders?
You may prefer a prethreaded flosser or floss holder, which often looks like a
little hacksaw. Flossers are handy for people with limited dexterity, for those
who are just beginning to floss,
or for caretakers who are flossing someone else's teeth.
Is it safe to use
toothpicks?
In a pinch, toothpicks are effective at removing food between teeth, but for
daily cleaning of plaque between teeth, floss is recommended. Toothpicks come
round and flat, narrow and thick. When you use a toothpick, don't press too
hard as you can break off the end and lodge
it in your gums.
Do I need a waterpick
(irrigating device)?
Don't use waterpicks as a substitute for toothbrushing and flossing. But they
are effective around orthodontic braces that retain food in areas a toothbrush
cannot reach. However, they do not remove plaque. Waterpicks are frequently
recommended for persons with gum disease when recommended by your dentist.
Solutions containing antibacterial agents like chlorhexidine or tetracycline,
available through a dentist's prescription, can be added to the reservoir.