College of Professional Studies
Dental Hygiene Clinic - Patient Education
Proper Brushing
Proper brushing helps minimize the risk of tooth decay and gum disease, the major causes of tooth loss. Use a soft-bristle brush and an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste to remove plaque and food particles. Replace your brush every three months.
On outer and inner surfaces, brush at a 45-degree angle in short, half-tooth-wide strokes against the gum line.
On chewing surfaces, hold the brush flat and brush back and forth.
On inside surfaces of front teeth, tilt brush vertically and use gentle up and down strokes with toe of brush.
Brush the tongue in a back-to-front sweeping motion to remove food particles and freshen your mouth.
Proper Flossing
Flossing daily removes plaque and food particles between teeth and below the gum line.
Wrap an 18-inch strand around your middle fingers and hold a one-inch section tightly.
Ease floss between teeth. Clean up and down several times while curving around teeth at the gum line.
Always floss behind the last tooth. Unwind clean floss as you proceed.
Floss around the abutment teeth of a bridge and under artificial teeth using a floss threader.
You may experience sore or bleeding gums for the first several days you floss. If bleeding continues after the first week of flossing, call your dental professional. If you have trouble handling floss, ask your dentist about the use of a floss holder, or other types of interdental cleaning aids.
Essential Care
Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is a leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Mainly caused by plaque bacteria, it is usually painless in the early stages. Regular dental visits are essential to maintaining gum health and timely diagnosis and treatment when needed.
The early stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. Advanced periodontal disease is a more serious condition with warning signs like: persistent bad taste, permanent teeth that are loose or separating; changes in the way your teeth fit together when you bite.
There are many forms and stages of periodontal disease. Most common are:
- Gingivitis
The earliest stage of gum disease, often characterized by bleeding, tenderness, swelling and redness of the gums. A toothpaste or mouth rinse may be used to help reduce bleeding and inflammation for mild gingivitis. - Periodontitis
A more advanced stage of gum disease involving bone and ligament surrounding the teeth. If left untreated, it can damage the bone and supporting tissues. Your gum separates from the tooth and the bone level deteriorates. - Advanced Periodontitis
Further progression of periodontitis with major loss of bone support. Your gums recede farther and separate. Pus may develop, bone loss continues and your teeth may loosen or fall out.
Treatments
Your dentist will examine you for periodontal disease during each routine checkup. A periodontal probe will be used to determine if there is any breakdown in the gum tissue attachment or if pockets have developed between your gums and teeth.
Treatment will depend upon the type of periodontal disease and how far the condition has progressed. Treatment options include:
- Scaling
-removes deposits above and below the gum line. - Root Planning
-
smoothes rough root surfaces so the gum can heal. Local anesthesia may be used. - Oral Irrigation
-directs liquid below the gumline to flush out toxins and germs to help restore the gums to health.
If deep pockets are found and bone has been destroyed, your dentist may recommend periodontal surgery.
A proper program of brushing, flossing and regular professional cleaning will help fight plaque accumulation and gum disease, and help you keep your teeth for a lifetime.
Be sure to follow the special home care instructions provided by your dental professional.
Essential Care
Children's teeth begin forming before birth. As early as 4 months, the first primary, or baby, teeth to erupt through the gums are the lower central incisors, followed closely by the upper central incisors. Although all 20 primary teeth usually appear by age 3, the pace and order of their eruption varies.
Oral care should begin soon after baby's birth. Gums should be cleaned after each feeding. You can begin brushing your child's teeth as soon as they appear.
Permanent teeth begin appearing around age 6, starting with the first molars and lower central incisors. This process continues until approximately age 21.
Adults have 28 permanent teeth, or up to 32 including the third molars (or wisdom teeth).
Dental Development
Always clean your infant's gums after feedings. Wipe gums with a clean, damp cloth or gauze pad.
Parents should brush children's teeth daily with a soft wet toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Schedule a dental visit between 6-12 months of age. Brush at least once daily or as directed by a dentist or physician. Do not swallow - use only a pea-sized amount for children under six.
To prevent
nursing bottle mouth, if you must give your baby a bottle at nap or bed time, fill it with plain water-not milk, formula or juice.
Your dentist may recommend regular fluoride treatments to strengthen enamel and resist decay. Whenever possible, drink fluoridated water and always use an ADA-accepted fluoridated toothpaste.
Dental sealants can help provide additional protection against cavities on the chewing surfaces of teeth. The plastic coating is painted on the grooved chewing surfaces of the back teeth.
Essential Care
If you occasionally experience a sudden flash of pain, or a mild tingly feeling when you bite into sweet or sour foods, or drink hot or cold beverages, you may have sensitive teeth.
Pain from sensitive teeth is not always constant; it can come and go. Constant pain could be a sign of a more serious problem. It is still important, however, to discuss your symptoms with your dentist to determine the cause and proper treatment.
What causes sensitive teeth?
In healthy teeth, porous tissue called dentin is protected by your gums and your teeth's hard enamel shell. Microscopic holes in the dentin, called tubules, allow the pain signal to be transmitted back to the nerve triggering pain, when irritated by certain foods and beverages. Dentin can be exposed by:
- Receding gums caused by improper brushing or gum disease.
- Fractured or chipped teeth.
- Clenching or grinding your teeth.
Treatment
Depending on the diagnosis, your dentist may recommend one or more of the following treatments to relieve the symptoms of sensitive teeth:
- A soft-bristle toothbrush.
- A special toothpaste for sensitive teeth that can either block access to the nerve or insulate the nerve itself.
- A fluoride rinse or gel for sensitive teeth, recommended by your dentist.
A sensitivity toothpaste usually takes several weeks to ease pain. Follow your dental professional's special home care instructions for regular use to keep pain from returning.
Patient Education Information
Compliments of the Dental Hygiene Department of Clayton State University and Proctor and Gamble Co.