At SmileOra Dental. Care in Enfield, CT; Dr. Anil, Mehta, with,30+ years of professional experience offers comprehensive clinical services including White-fillings, Clear Braces, Root canal, Crown and Bridges, Oral Surgery Implants, Dentures and Emergency services at a reasonable price”

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Why is Oral Hygiene So Important?

Adults over 35 lose more teeth to gum diseases (periodontal disease) than to cavities. Three out of four adults are affected at some time in their life. The best way to prevent cavities and periodontal disease is by good tooth brushing and dental flossing techniques.

Periodontal disease and decay are both caused by bacterial plaque. Plaque is a colorless film, which sticks to your teeth at the gum line, and plaque constantly forms on your teeth. By thorough daily brushing and flossing, you can remove these germs and help prevent periodontal disease.

How to Brush Teeth?

Dr. Mehta recommends using a soft-to-medium toothbrush. Position the brush at a 45-degree angle where your gums and teeth meet. Gently move the brush in a circular motion several times using small, gentle strokes brushing the outside surfaces of your teeth. Use light pressure while putting the bristles between the teeth, but not so much pressure that you feel any discomfort. If you have any pain while brushing or have any questions about brushing correctly, please be sure to call the office at 860-265-7890.

When you are done cleaning the outside surfaces of all your teeth, follow the same directions while cleaning the inside of the back teeth.

To clean the inside surfaces of the upper and lower front teeth:

  • Hold the brush vertically
  • Make several gentle back-and-forth strokes over each tooth
  • Don’t forget to brush the surrounding gum tissue gently.

Next, you will clean the biting surfaces of your teeth by using short, gentle strokes. Change the brush’s position as often as necessary to reach and clean all surfaces. Try to watch yourself in the mirror to make sure you clean each surface. After you are done, rinse vigorously to remove any plaque you might have loosened while brushing.

How to Floss?
Periodontal disease usually appears between the teeth where your toothbrush cannot reach. Flossing is a very effective way to remove plaque from those surfaces. However, it is essential to develop the proper technique. The following instructions will help you but remember it takes time and practice.

Start with a piece of floss (waxed is easier) about 18 long. Lightly wrap most of the floss around the middle finger of one hand. Wrap the rest of the floss around the middle finger of the other hand.

To clean the upper teeth:

  • Hold the floss tightly between the thumb and forefinger of each hand.
  • Gently insert the floss tightly between the teeth using a back-and-forth motion.
  • Please do not force the floss or try to snap it into place.
  • Bring the floss to the gum line, curve it into a C-shape against one tooth.
  • Slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth until you feel light resistance.
  • Move the floss up and down on the side of one tooth.
  • Remember, two tooth surfaces need to be cleaned in each space.
  • Continue to floss each side of all the upper teeth.
  • Be careful not to cut the gum tissue between the teeth.
  • As the floss becomes soiled, turn to get a new section from one finger to another.

To clean between the bottom teeth, guide the floss using the forefingers of both hands. Do not forget the backside of the last tooth on both sides, upper and lower.

Rinse vigorously with water to remove plaque and food particles when you are done. Do not be alarmed if your gums bleed during the first week of flossing or are a little sore. If your gums hurt while flossing, you could be doing it too hard or pinching the gum. As you floss daily and remove the plaque, your gums will heal, and the bleeding should stop.

Caring for Sensitive Teeth

Sometimes after dental treatment, teeth are sensitive to hot and cold. This should not last long, but only if the mouth is clean. If the mouth is not cleaned, the sensitivity will remain and become more severe. If your teeth are susceptible, consult with your doctor. They may recommend a medicated toothpaste or mouth rinse made especially for sensitive teeth.

Choosing Oral Hygiene Products

There are so many products on the market that can become confusing, and choosing between them can be difficult. Here are some suggestions for choosing dental hygiene products that will work for most patients. To stay safe from oral infection use these products.

Automatic and high-tech electronic toothbrushes are safe and effective for most patients. Oral irrigators (water spraying devices) will rinse your mouth thoroughly but not remove plaque. You need to brush and floss in conjunction with the irrigator. We see excellent results with electric toothbrushes called Rota dent and Interplak.

Some toothbrushes have a rubber tip on the handle; this is used to massage the gums after brushing. There are also tiny brushes (interproximal toothbrushes) that clean between your teeth. If these are misused, you could injure the gums, so discuss proper use with your doctor.

If used in conjunction with brushing and flossing, fluoride toothpaste and mouth rinses can reduce tooth decay by as much as 40%. Remember, these rinses are not recommended for children under six years of age. Tartar control toothpaste will reduce tartar above the gum line, but gum disease starts below the gum line, so these products have not been proven to reduce the early stage of gum disease.

Anti-plaque rinses, approved by the American Dental Association, contain agents that may help bring the early gum disease under control. Use these in conjunction with brushing and flossing.

Professional Cleaning

Daily brushing and flossing will keep dental calculus to a minimum, but a professional cleaning will remove calculus in places your toothbrush and oral b floss have missed. Your visit to our office is an essential part of your program to prevent gum disease. Keep your teeth for your lifetime.

Nutrition

Good nutrition plays a significant role in your dental health. Brushing and flossing help keep your teeth and gums healthy and strong; however, a balanced diet will help boost your body’s immune system, leaving you less vulnerable to oral disease.

How often and what you eat have affected your dental health. Eating starchy foods such as crackers, bread, cookies, and candy causes the bacteria in your mouth to feed on it; they then produce acids, which attack your teeth for up to 20 minutes or more. Also, foods that stick to your teeth or are slow to dissolve give the acids more time to destroy your tooth enamel.

Starchy foods:

  •  Crackers
  • Pieces of bread
  • Cookies
  • Candy

Sticky/slow to dissolve foods:

  •  Granola bars
  • Chewy fruit snacks
  • Dried fruit
  • Potato chips
  • Hard candy

Sticky and starchy foods create less acid when eaten as part of a meal. Saliva production increases at mealtime, rinsing away food particles and neutralizing harmful acids.

Foods such as nuts, cheese, onions, and some teas have been shown to slow decay’s growth, causing bacteria in the mouth.