oral hygiene
Step 1 - Place bristles along the gum line at a 45 degree angle. Gently brush using a circular motion along the outer and inner tooth surfaces.
Step 2 - Brush each tooth individually. Tilt brush vertically behind the front teeth. Using the front half of the brush, use the same circular motion.
Step 3 - Place the brush against the biting surface of the teeth and use a gentle back-and-forth motion. Brush the tongue to remove odor-producing bacteria.
Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind some of it around your middle finger (3 turns). This finger will take up the floss as it becomes dirty. Shorten the length between the two fingers to 6 inches and wind some floss (1 turn) around the opposite middle finger. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and index fingers.
Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth. Hold the floss tightly against the tooth as you gently rub the side of the tooth with an up and down motion. Before retrieving it, clean the adjacent tooth surface.
As you finish cleaning each contact wind the dirty floss once around the first middle finger and slide more new length of floss to proceed to the next contact.
Fluoride toothpastes and mouth rinses if used in conjunction with brushing and flossing can reduce tooth decay, but do nothing for periodontal disease. Tartar control toothpastes will reduce the formation of tartar (calcified dental plaque or calculus) above the gum line. But if you have sensitive teeth, they will make them worse. And, they do nothing for calculus below the gumline, where it seriously worsens Periodontal Disease. Over-the-counter mouth rinses may kill germs that cause gum disease in clinical studies, but in real-life perform no miracles. You still must floss! Your Periodontist is the best person to help you select the products that are best for you.
Suppress the urge to avoid cleaning teeth that are sensitive to cold! Teeth that have suffered damage from gum disease (recession) will always be more sensitive to cold - avoiding them only makes it worse.
After any dental treatment, teeth may become sensitive to cold. This is their way of letting you know that they've been injured. In fact, any injury (cavity, tooth clenching/grinding, gum infection) can injure the nerves in a tooth. This should not last long, but only if the teeth are kept clean. If the teeth are not kept clean the sensitivity will remain or get worse.
If your teeth are especially sensitive consult with your Dentist. This could be a sign of the need for root canal treatment or a gum tissue graft. A desensitizing toothpaste (with potassium nitrate) or concentrated fluoride gel (0.4% stannous - or 1.1% sodium-fluoride) may do the trick.
