Your Dental Health: Are You Making Choices or Taking Chances?

You're trying to manage a career, family, exercise and your social life.  Every busy moment just brings you to the next busier one, until there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in a day to do it all.  Then one more demand is place on your already impossible schedule--to brush and floss once a day!

You are encouraging your kids to practice proper hygiene, but now it's your turn.

As you sit perched on the dental chair, the thought comes to mind that you can't make any more commitments to anyone right now. You nod your head and promise to give it your best try. One week, one month, three months later, you still haven't started a consistent program of oral hygiene. Sound familiar? You are not alone.  You fit the description of many of my patients. As a dentist, I do understand your busy lifestyle.  I am living it too!  That's why I want to do everything I can to make compliance easier on you.

Change is never easy. I find that if steps involved in proper hygiene are clearly spelled out, that's half the battle.  I invite you to schedule an appointment to discuss your dental needs and to review any problem areas so a program can be designed to fit your lifestyle.  Until then, here are a few simple tips on brushing and flossing that may help start your off.

Brushing Basics:

1.Hold your brush at a 45 degree angle against gum line

2.Vibrate  bristles using a gentle scrubbing motion

3.Clean one to two teeth at a time

4.Brush the inner front teeth using the tip of the brush

5.Brush your tongue.

Flossing Basics:

1.Break off about 18 inches of floss,winding most around your middle fingers

2.Hold about an inch of floss tightly between thumb and forefinger

3. Use a gentle sawing motion to guide the floss between teeth

4. Curve floss against each tooth and slide under thegum line

5. Remove floss by pulling back through between teeth

Remember each tooth has five surfaces which should be cleaned at least once a day.  Many things contribute to a healthy mouth, but nothing takes the place of brushing and flossing.  The key to preventing dental problems is proper hygiene and regular dental check ups.  Many problems can be treated fairly easily if diagnosed early so I encourage everyone to schedule a dental visit today!

Dr. Pamela Clarke

412-788-6684