| Dental Caries (cavities) and Periodontal
Gum Disease
are the two major dental
diseases. Proper homecare, including brushing, flossing and
diet, can reduce the risk of these diseases. |
| |
| Oral Hygiene Instructions: |
| |
|
Brushing
Brush daily for at least two
minutes in the morning and again after your last meal of the
day. Proper technique requires placing the toothbrush at a 45
degree angle to the tooth with the bristles facing the
gum-line. Rotate the brush in small circles starting in one
corner of the mouth and work your way around the entire mouth.
The bristles of the brush should be soft and the toothpaste
should contain fluoride. I recommend the Sonicare SOLO 4800
Series toothbrush (http://www.sonicare.com/), because it can
reach difficult locations and runs on a two minute cycle that
guarantees all parts of the mouth receive equal
attention.
|
|
Top |
|
| |
|
Flossing
F loss your teeth at
least once a day before going to bed. Begin with approximately
24 inches of floss and bring it between the teeth and to the
gum line. Wrap the piece of floss around one side of the tooth
and move it back and forth next to the gums. Next, wrap the
floss around the other side of the tooth using the same
motion. Make sure you use a clean section of the 24 inch piece
of floss for each tooth.
|
|
Top |
|
| |
|
Rubber Tip Stimulator
I
recommend using a rubber tip stimulator (Butler Gum
Stimulator) after flossing before bed. Place the
stimulator tip between the teeth and push toward the gum until
you feel pressure. This technique strengthens the tissue
around the teeth.
|
|
Top |
|
| |
|
Breath Control
For
fresh breath, I recommend Closys II products.
|
|
Top |
|
| |
|
Diet
Sugar
from candy, cookies and desserts damages teeth and gums. Fruit, on the other
hand, helps clean the mouth. Avoid drinking coffee with sugar,
or sugar filled colas over a long period of time. The longer
your teeth are exposed to sugar, the more damage is done. The
best diet for your mouth is very similar to the best diet for
your body. Avoid refined sugar and eat plenty of fruits and
vegetables. |
| |
|
Occlusal
Wear
Patients
showing tooth wear from grinding, clenching, or bruxism need
to wear a night-time protection appliance after
treatment. It is critical that patients wear their
appliance when they sleep for three reasons:
- It
protects the teeth from further wear
- It
serves as a retainer to keep the teeth from
moving
- It is
friendly to the TMJ by relieving pressure on the
joint
When
these patients are examined at recall, Dr. Wang
confirms that there have been no changes.
|
| |
