PERIODONTAL DISEASE

Oral Hygiene

Your homecare plays a crutal roll in maintaining your oral health.  The more effectivly you clean your teeth at home the easier it is to maintain your periodontal condition.  Follwoing are some great tips to help improve your oral hygine.
 
While brushing, 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. Use light pressure while putting the bristles between the teeth, but not so much pressure that you feel any discomfort.  It helps keep the pressure light if you hold your tooth brush with three fingers (pointer, middle and thumb) instead of your whole fist.  Using this technique will prevent too much pressure that can leat to tissue recession.

If you have any pain while brushing or have any questions about how to brush properly, please be sure to call the office.

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 important to develop the proper technique. The following instructions will help you, but remember it takes time and practice.

Hold the floss between two fingers tightly and using a back and forth mothion gently snapping floss through the contact.  Hugg the floss againt one tooth with a c-shape scraping the plaque along the side of the tooth and under the gums.  Then do the same thing against the opposite tooth with out breaking through the contact.  Repeat between all teeth. 

When you are done, rinse vigorously with water to remove plaque and food particles. Do not be alarmed if during the first week of flossing your gums bleed 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 kept clean. If the mouth is not kept clean the sensitivity will remain and could become more severe. If your teeth are especially sensitive, consult with your doctor. They may recommend a medicated toothpaste or mouth rinse made especially for sensitive teeth.  For over the counter remmidy you may apply a sensitive type tooth paste and burnish it in to the tooth structer without rinsing it off.  This will allow the desensitizing agent to sit on the tooth surface longer working more effectivley. 

Choosing Oral Hygiene Products

Our well trained hygenist will teach you and give you samples of what products that will work best for your mouth.  They will deminstrate use and send you home with samples to try out.  The most imortant homecare tool is what ever you will use the most.  Homecare tools are only effective if you use them.     
 
Cleaning

Daily brushing and flossing will keep dental calculus to a minimum, but a professional cleaning will remove calculus in places your toothbrush and floss have missed. Visit your periodontist, as he or she is an important part of your program to prevent gum disease. Keep your teeth for your lifetime.