Patient Education - Oral Hygiene
Oral Hygiene Instructions
Clean your teeth with a soft bristle brush
Oral hygiene and dental health go hand in hand. A soft bristle brush is recommended for cleaning your teeth. Placing the brush along the gum line helps to remove plaque that settles around the gum tissue. Plaque contains bacteria which can cause tooth decay and gum disease & infection such as gingivitis and periodontal disease.
Choose the right brush
Be sure to choose a toothbrush with a small head to reach into all the small spaces and crevices where food can accumulate.
Brushing the biting surfaces of your teeth
The biting surfaces of the teeth accumulate food and debris which settles into the grooves on the teeth. Proper dental care and teeth hygiene includes brushing these surfaces helps to prevent decay which can start in the grooves of the teeth.
Brushing difficult areas
In areas where your regular toothbrush cannot fit or in areas that are difficult to reach, smaller cleaning tools can be used to maintain proper teeth and oral hygiene. In this example, a tuft end brush is being used to clean the inside surfaces of the lower front teeth.
Brush enough
It is vital to brush your teeth thoroughly each day. It is advised to brush twice a day for roughly 2 minutes each time.
Choose the right toothpaste
Not all kinds of toothpaste are the same. Be sure to choose the toothpaste that best suits you and can give an effective clean, with the right amount of fluoride. Children need a certain amount of fluoride in their toothpaste and thus need to choose allocated toothpaste. Adults with sensitive teeth can choose certain toothpastes which can treat and strengthen sensitive teeth.
Flossing your teeth
Flossing is a vital component of your daily oral hygiene and dental health routine. Floss helps to remove plaque which settles into the gum pockets around each tooth. Removing this plaque keeps your gums and teeth healthy.
Use a mouthwash
Use mouthwash to wash out debris which your toothbrush and floss cannot reach.
Use a tongue scraper
Some toothbrushes have a tongue scraper on the back of the head. It is important to scrape and brush your tongue to rid bacteria from the tongue to maintain proper oral hygiene. Doing this can also help freshen breath.
