Periodontal Disease

Oral Hygiene

While brushing the outside surfaces of your teeth, 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.

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 gently brush the surrounding gum tissue.

Next you will clean the biting surfaces of your teeth. To do this use short, gentle strokes. Change the position of the brush 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.

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 Clean Interproximally (between the teeth):

Periodontal disease usually appears between the teeth where your toothbrush cannnot 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.

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. Do not force the floss or try to snap it in to place. Bring the floss to the gumline then 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 there are two tooth surfaces that 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 from one finger to the other to get a fresh section.

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

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.

There are other methods of cleaning between the teeth, depending on the amount of space you have between the teeth. Space can increase due to bone loss, aggressive brushing, etc. Often there are increased spaces after periodontal treatment due to the elimination of the pockets.

Tools such as the proxabrush, rubber tip, electric flosser, etc. are used in these cases, and will be customized to each individual patient. After treatment, at the final visit, we will make sure you are provided with the proper tools and the instruction to keep the teeth and gums plaque free and healthy.

Caring for Sensitive Teeth

Sometimes after dental treatment, teeth are sensitive to hot and cold. This should not last long, and will go away faster if the mouth is kept clean. If the mouth is not kept clean the sensitivity will remain and could become more severe.

If sensitivity becomes a probem, there are many products that are very effective in eliminating it. Sensitivity toothpastes work well, and there are a number of in office treatments for more advanced cases. It is important to remember though, less plaque = less sensitivity, so good hygiene is the key.

Choosing Oral Hygiene Products

There are so many products on the market it can become confusing and choosing between all the products can be difficult. Here are some suggestions for choosing dental care products that will work for most patients.

Electronic toothbrushes are safe and effective for the majority of the patients. Oral irrigators (water spraying devices) will rinse your mouth thoroughly, but will not remove plaque. You need to brush and floss in conjunction with the irrigator. We see excellent results with electric toothbrushes called Sonicare and Interplak and braun.

Some toothbrushes have a rubber tip on the handle, this is used to remove plaque and debris from in between the teeth. There are also tiny brushes (interproximal toothbrushes) that clean between your teeth. If these are appropriate for you, we will provide them to you and instruct you on their use.

Fluoride toothpastes and mouth rinses if used in conjunction with brushing and flossing can reduce tooth decay as much as 40%. Remember, these rinses are not recommended for children under six years of age. Tartar control toothpastes will reduce tartar above the gum line, but gum disease starts below the gumline 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 early gum disease under control. Use these in conjunction with brushing and flossing.

The many over-the –counter tooth whitening products have been proven safe to use and we feel that they do not contribute to gum disease. They have been known to make teeth, especially periodontally affected teeth, more sensitive.

If you have concerns over the look of your teeth, it is best to consult your general dentist who will provide you with all of the options.

Please feel free to ask us to help you select the right products that are best for you, we feel that is our duty to you and it is our pleasure.

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 floss have missed. Visit your periodontist and general dentist on their recommended schedule, as they are an important part of your program to prevent gum disease and maintain good dental health. Keep your teeth for your lifetime.