Deer Park and Pasadena Texas Family and General Dentistry:
How to Brush Your Teeth:
• Lighten up! If you tend to brush too hard, the first step is to admit that you have a problem. Make a point of practicing a gentler touch with your toothbrush – ask your spouse or a family member to watch you brush and remind you when you start bearing down too hard.
• Find a new angle. Make sure that your toothbrush bristles are contacting your gums at a 45-degree angle – this can reduce the force of the brush against your gums.
• “Power up” with an electric toothbrush. Invest in a quality battery-powered toothbrush, like a Philips Sonicare. These Sonicare toothbrush gives your teeth and gums a steady, consistent and gentle cleaning. You’ll be sure to notice a difference – most people never go back to the “old fashioned” toothbrush after they’ve experienced a power toothbrush. Once I started using my Sonicare I have never gone back to use a manual toothbrush.
• Soothe the pain with special toothpaste. Over the counter “sensitive” toothpaste works well. Furthermore, we carry a special toothpaste called Prevident 5000 at our office that works amazing for sensitive teeth.
Proper brushing and flossing are essential for preventing tooth decay, periodontal disease, halitosis, and staining. Tooth decay occurs when the acids found in plaque erode the natural enamel found on the teeth. Periodontal disease is a serious condition which can cause tooth loss, gum recession, and jawbone recession. Removing plaque and calculus (tartar) from the surface of the tooth using a toothbrush and from the interdental areas using dental floss is an excellent way to stave off periodontal problems. Halitosis is caused by old food particles on or between the teeth, which can be removed with regular brushing and flossing.
Staining is caused by a variety of factors, such as smoking, coffee, and tea. Regular brushing and flossing can help prevent these stains from becoming permanent.
How to Brush Your Teeth
At least twice a day, best in the morning and before bed, you should brush your teeth. The best toothbrush is small, has soft bristles with rounded tips, and is no older than three months. The brush’s head should be small enough to reach all parts of the mouth, and the bristles should be soft enough not to hurt the gum tissue too much. The American Dental Association (ADA) says that electric toothbrushes with rotating or oscillating heads are more successful than other toothbrushes.
Here is a simple guide to how to brush your teeth right:
- Put the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle where the gums and teeth meet.
- Gently brush your gums and teeth by moving your toothbrush in small circles.
- Scrubbing or putting too much pressure on the teeth can hurt the gums and tooth enamel.
- Brush the inside, outside, chewing, and tongue sides of each tooth. Pay extra attention to the back teeth’s sides.
- Use back-and-forth sweeps to clean the surfaces of the teeth.
- To get rid of fungi, food, and other waste on the tongue, brush it.
How to Floss Properly
Plaque can build up between your teeth, and flossing is a great way to get rid of it. Flossing is a very important way to avoid periodontal disease and keep gum pockets from getting too deep. The spaces between teeth are hard to clean with a toothbrush and should be cleaned every day with dental floss. It doesn’t matter what floss tastes like or what kind it is. Choose floss that is easy and nice to use.
Here are the basics of how to floss:
- Cut a piece of floss that is about 18 inches long.
- Wrap one end of the floss around the middle finger of the left hand and the other end around the middle finger of the right hand until the hands are about 2 to 3 inches apart.
- Gently move the floss between the teeth and up to the gum line.
- Make a “U” shape with the floss around each tooth and carefully slide it under the gum line.
- Move the floss carefully up and down several times to get rid of bacteria and food stuck between your teeth.
- Don’t pop the floss in and out between your teeth. This will hurt and irritate your gums.
Dr. Nugent is a General and Family Dentist that serves Pasadena, Deer Park, La Porte, Friendswood, League City, and Houston Texas. Visit our office location at 3421 Burke Rd Ste A, Pasadena, Texas 77504. Dr. Nugent has a strong focus on Cosmetic, Family, Implant and Sedation Dentistry.
Call us at 713-941-8261.