Oral Hygiene

Studies show that American adults over 35 lose more teeth to gum diseases (periodontal disease) than from cavities. This means that three out of four adults are affected by tooth loss.

Tooth loss doesn’t just affect your smile’s appearance—it can make eating and speaking more difficult, contribute to jawbone loss, and even impact surrounding teeth. The good news is that with proper oral hygiene, this is largely preventable.

Most dental issues are caused by bacterial plaque, a thin, colorless film that sticks to your teeth at the gum line and forms enamel-eroding acid. Plaque constantly forms on your teeth, feeding itself from remaining food debris and sugars. So, by thoroughly brushing and flossing your teeth, you can remove these germs and say goodbye to periodontal disease—now and forever.  

Tips for Brushing Your Teeth

Understanding the benefits of oral hygiene is easy; the challenge is performing these tasks regularly and with the right technique. To help you achieve that, here are some tips from Dr. Foxhall:

1. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush that doesn’t damage your enamel and gums.
2. Position the brush at a 45-degree angle where your gums and teeth meet and gently move it in a circular motion several times using small strokes to brush the outside surfaces of your teeth.
3. When cleaning the outside surfaces of all your teeth, follow the same directions while cleaning the inside of the back teeth.
4. To clean the inside surfaces of the upper and lower front teeth, hold the brush vertically. Make several gentle back-and-forth strokes over each tooth. Don’t forget to brush the surrounding gum tissue gently.
5. Clean the biting surfaces of your teeth by using short, gentle strokes. Change the brush's position as often as necessary to reach and clean all surfaces.

Try to watch yourself in the mirror to make sure you clean each surface. The entire procedure should last at least two minutes, giving each tooth enough time and care. After you are done, rinse vigorously to remove any plaque you might have loosened while brushing.

Tips for Flossing In-Between Teeth

Periodontal disease—and most cavities—usually appears between the teeth where your toothbrush cannot reach. Flossing is a very effective tactic for removing plaque from those surfaces and preventing periodontal disease.

To do so effectively, here’s what you need to know:

1. Start with a piece of floss (waxed is easier) about 18” long. Lightly wrap most of the floss around the middle finger of one hand and the rest around the middle finger of the other hand.
2. To clean the upper teeth, hold the floss tightly between the thumb and forefinger of each hand, and gently insert it between the teeth using a back-and-forth motion. Do not force the floss or try to snap it into place, as this could harm your sensitive gums.
3. Bring the floss to the gum line and curve it into a C-shape against one tooth. Slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth until you feel light resistance. Move the floss up and down on the side of one tooth.
4. Remember, two tooth surfaces need to be cleaned in each space. Continue to floss each side of all the upper teeth. Be careful not to cut the gum tissue between the teeth. As the floss becomes soiled, turn from one finger to the other to get a fresh section.  
5. To clean between the bottom teeth, guide the floss using the forefingers of both hands. Do not forget the back side of the last tooth on both sides, upper and lower.  
6. Once done, rinse vigorously with water to remove plaque and food particles.  

Do not be alarmed if your gums bleed or are a little sore during the first week of flossing: it may take some time for you to find the right tactic. If your gums continue to hurt while flossing, you could be doing it too hard or pinching the gum.  

As you floss daily and remove the plaque, your gums will heal, and the bleeding should stop.

Caring for Sensitive Teeth  

Sometimes, after dental treatment, teeth are sensitive to extreme temperatures. This should not last long, but only if the mouth is clean.

If the mouth is not kept clean, the sensitivity will remain and could become more severe. If your teeth are especially sensitive, consult your doctor. They may recommend a medicated toothpaste or mouth rinse for sensitive teeth.

ADA Tips: Taking Care of Your Teeth and Gums  

The Importance of Professional Dental Cleaning  

While daily brushing and flossing will keep dental calculus to a minimum, regular professional dental cleaning—and proper check-ups—are still necessary to maintain a healthy smile. A hygienist will remove calculus in places your toothbrush and floss have missed, preventing tooth decay and gum disease.

Your permanent teeth only come once, so it’s important to protect them to keep your natural teeth for life!

Oral Hygiene with Children

If maintaining a good oral hygiene routine is hard, enforcing the importance of these habits in your children can be even harder. However, brushing and flossing are even more crucial for kids, as their teeth are still developing and much more prone to cavities and gum disease than an adult’s.

Teaching your kid how to protect their smile will lay the groundwork for a lifetime of healthy smiles. If you need help explaining this to them, our pediatric dentists can help!

Choosing Oral Hygiene Products  

Nowadays, so many dental products are on the market, so it can become difficult to choose between them. To find products that will work for you, here are some suggestions:  

• Automatic and “high-tech” electronic toothbrushes are safe and effective for most patients. Oral irrigators (water spraying devices) will rinse your mouth thoroughly but not remove plaque. You need to brush and floss in conjunction with the irrigator.
• Some toothbrushes have a rubber tip on the handle, this is used to massage the gums after brushing. Tiny brushes (interproximal toothbrushes) also clean between your teeth. If these are used improperly, you could injure the gums, so discuss proper use with your doctor.  
• Fluoride toothpastes and mouth rinses, if used in conjunction with brushing and flossing, can reduce tooth decay by as much as 40%. Remember, though, these rinses are not recommended for children under six years of age. Tartar control toothpaste will reduce tartar above the gum line, but gum disease starts below the gum line, so these products have not been proven to reduce the early stage of gum disease.
• Anti-plaque rinses, approved by the American Dental Association, contain agents that may help control early gum disease. Use these in conjunction with brushing and flossing.

‍