Daily Oral Hygiene

Dental hygiene is the area of dentistry that focuses primarily on the prevention of oral disease and the maintenance of sound oral health for your teeth and gums.

Good oral care habits need to be established from childhood and are the foundation to lifelong healthy teeth and gums.  Dental Clinique dentists are highly trained in this area to provide you with the following services:

 

  • Adult and Child Oral Health Education
  • Treatment of Gum Disease
  • Prevention of Tooth Decay
  • Fissure Sealant Treatments for Children
  • Bad Breath Treatments
  • Individual Oral Hygiene Care
  • Clean and Polish

Every year, millions of people end up at their dentist requiring treatment for tooth decay and gum disease.  With good dental education and a regular oral hygiene routine, many of these conditions and the suffering they cause can be prevented.

Keeping your mouth healthy will minimise decay and gum disease development.  An effective brushing and flossing routine will keep your mouth healthy and your smile bright.

Especially important for children, regular dental appointments enable our team to monitor your child’s developing teeth and facial bone structures for any irregularities and implement corrective treatment early.  Dental sealants form a protective barrier against plaque build-up and decay, hence protecting your child’s teeth to give them the best start to a lifetime of good oral and general health.

Signs of gums disease include:

  • Bleeding gums whilst brushing
  • Constant bad breath
  • Red, swollen or tender gums
  • Loose teeth

Helpful brushing tips
By implementing an effective brushing routine and using a recommended fluoride toothpaste every day, you will be able to maintain your dental health and remove plaque build-up, which can lead to gum disease.

  1. Place the head of your toothbrush at a 45° angle against your gum
  2. Move the brush back and forth in short, semi-circle strokes several times, using a gentle movement
  3. Brush the outer surfaces of each tooth, top and bottom, keeping the bristles gently angled against your gum
  4. Use the same method on the inside surfaces of all the teeth, still using short back and forth strokes
  5. It is important to brush the chewing surfaces of the teeth as they will be constantly in contact with everything you eat
  6. Clean the inside surfaces of your front teeth by tilting the brush almost vertically and make several gentle up and down strokes with the front part of the brush
  7. Brushing your tongue will help freshen your breath by removing bacteria

Basic flossing tips
An essential part of your oral hygiene routine, flossing removes plaque from between the teeth, areas where gum disease and decay can begin.  It can sometimes feel a little awkward to floss, talk to your Dental Clinique dentist and follow the tips below to help you feel more comfortable in maintaining your oral health.

  1. Loosely wind approximately 50cm of floss around the middle fingers of each hand, leaving about 3 to 5cm of floss in between
  2. Use your thumbs to gently guide the floss between your teeth by using a zigzag motion.  It is important to remember not snap the floss between your teeth but use a smooth and flowing motion around each side of the tooth
  3. Curve the floss around the side of the tooth and slide it up and down against your tooth’s side surface and under the gum.  This may feel uncomfortable but it is important to get between the tooth and gum area.  Use a new length of floss for each tooth to clean them thoroughly

Creating a simple daily hygiene routine can mean fewer visits to the dentist, little or no dental health issues and a bright, healthy smile for life.