PROPER CARE FOR A LIFETIME OF HEALTH
Dr. Whisenant wants nothing less for patients in Dripping Springs, TX than a beautiful, healthy smile that lasts a lifetime. But of course, you play a vital role in ensuring that your teeth stay in great shape. Your daily, personal dental hygiene must be impeccable. It all starts with eating balanced meals, limiting your snacking and properly flossing, brushing, rinsing and using the various other dental aids designed to help control the bacteria and plaque that can lead to periodontal disease.
Brushing Your Teeth Properly Takes More Practice Than You Realize.
As you’ve probably heard throughout your life, you should be brushing your teeth twice a day, preferably in the morning and at bedtime. Choose a toothbrush with a small head and soft, rounded-end bristles. The head of the toothbrush should be small enough to access your entire mouth, and the bristles should be soft enough not to damage the gums. Don’t use a toothbrush for more than three months.
The American Dental Association has endorsed electric toothbrushes, saying that rotating or oscillating heads can be more effective at cleaning teeth than other varieties.
Proper brushing involves a specific technique:
Place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle at the point where your gums and teeth meet
Brush in small, circular strokes to gently clean the gum-line and teeth
Avoid scrubbing or using too much pressure, in order to avoid damaging your teeth or gums
Cover each surface of each tooth, placing special emphasis on the back surfaces of the teeth
Stroke back and forth to clean the chewing surfaces
It May Be A Hassle, But Flossing Properly Is Key To A Healthy Mouth.
The surfaces between your teeth, known as the interdental regions, can be hard to reach with a toothbrush. Flossing solves that problem by removing the plaque that can build up in that region. Flossing is especially vital to preventing periodontal disease and maintaining healthy gum pockets. Flavor and type are a matter of personal preference. Choose floss that you find easy and pleasant to use.
Proper flossing technique is as follows:
Cut a piece of floss about a foot and a half long
Wrap one end around your left middle finger and the other end around your right middle finger, leaving about 2-3 inches between your hands
Pull the floss between your teeth, toward the gums
Pull the floss in a curve around the base of each tooth where it meets the gums, carefully sliding the floss beneath the gum line
Remove interdental plaque and debris by move the floss up and down multiple times between each set of teeth
Try not to pop the floss in and out between the teeth, as this explosive movement can inflame or cut your gums