All of our lives television commercials, health officials, teachers and parents have told us that it is very important to practice excellent oral hygiene. Unfortunately, this advice is rarely taken as seriously as it should be. Usually it is stressed as important for fighting cavities and to prevent bad breath. Rarely is it mentioned that your toothbrush, floss, and good habits are your best weapons for fighting gum disease. You should know the best practices for maintaining perfect oral hygiene to prevent gum disease in Greenwood, SC.
Brush your teeth twice a day, for a minimum of two minutes, with a small to medium head toothbrush that has soft nylon bristles with rounded tips. Hold your brush at a 45 degree angle to the gumline. Move your brush in a small, one tooth wide circular motion. Do the outside, chewing surface, and then inside face of each tooth. As you finish each surface, sweep the loosened plaque and residue away from the gumline. To brush the inside area of the front teeth, hold your brush vertically. Begin at one side of the top and work your way around to the other side, remembering to clean the rear surface of the back molars. Move to the lower teeth and repeat the procedure. By working from one side to the other, you can be certain that no teeth were missed. If you snack a lot during the day, more frequent brushing is recommended.
You should clean between, or floss, your teeth at least once a day. Talk to Dr. Christopher Griffin or Teresa Williams, your hygienist, they can advise you about what type of floss, interdental brushes, floss holders or other cleaning tools that might work best for you. Flossing is crucial because it reaches the areas between teeth and just under the gumline where your toothbrush cannot reach, which is the area that gum disease is likely to begin. When you floss, just like brushing, work from the back of one side to the back of the other side to make sure nothing is missed.
If you will follow these instructions for great oral hygiene at home and maintain regular visits to Dr. Christopher T Griffin, D.M.D. for check-ups and Teresa Williams, your hygienist, for cleanings, you can be confident that you are doing your best to prevent gum disease.