General Dentistry Information
Oral Hygiene - Personal Care
The teeth should be brushed after every meal and at bedtime, and flossed at least once per day, preferably at night before you brush and go to sleep. For some people, flossing might be recommended after every meal. We can instruct and demonstrate proper brushing and flossing techniques during your next visit.
Special appliances or tools may be recommended to supplement (but not to replace) tooth brushing and flossing. These include special toothpicks, water irrigation, or other devices. Initially electric toothbrushes were only recommended for persons who have problems with strength or dexterity of their hands, but many dentists are now recommending them to many other patients in order to improve their home dental care.
To aid in your oral hygiene we recommend using fluoride-containing, or anti-plaque (tartar control) toothpastes or mouthwashes.
Dentures, retainers, and other appliances must be kept extremely clean. This includes regular brushing and may include soaking them in a cleansing solution
Oral Hygiene - Professional Care
Regular tooth cleaning by the dentist or dental hygienist is important to remove plaque that may develop even with careful brushing and flossing, especially in areas that are difficult for a patient to reach on their own at home. Professional cleaning includes tooth scaling and tooth polishing and debridement if too much tartar has accumulated. This involves the use of various instruments or devices to loosen and remove deposits from the teeth.
We recommend having your teeth professionally cleaned every six months. More frequent cleaning and examination may be necessary during the treatment of many of the dental/oral disorders. Routine examination of the teeth is recommended at least every year. This may include yearly, select dental X-rays.