This Month's Tip!!!

Proper brushing techniques are essential to good oral hygiene. For optimum health, you should brush your teeth after every meal. Start off by moistening your toothbrush and applying a small amount of toothpaste to it. Begin brushing in an up and down motion, making sure to thoroughly brush all tooth surfaces on both sides. Two minutes of brushing time is recommended. Don’t be afraid to gently massage the gum area around each tooth, either. Gum health is important, too!

If you are unable to follow the above techniques, perhaps an automatic toothbrush would be the way to go. These products can provide personalized, pre-programmed brushing cycles and even offer UV sanitizing. We recommend the Philips Sonicare brand. You can purchase these units on your own, or as a service to our patients, we offer them to you at our cost.

BTW: For best results, you should change your manual toothbrush every 3 months. Bacteria and other particles can build up on the brush and cause health issues. When you visit our office for your regular check-up and cleaning, make sure you ask for a fresh, new brush!

Finally, don’t forget to floss!  Studies have shown that flossing is an essential part of the tooth-cleaning process because it removes plaque from between teeth and at the gum line, where periodontal disease often begins. If you have any questions, our staff would be happy to instruct you on proper flossing techniques.