Tooth Care
- Good dental hygiene is essential to preserving your teeth for a lifetime. The basic maintenance routine consists of regularly brushing and flossing. Every side of the tooth and the gums should be kept clean. Healthy gums should not bleed when you brush or floss.
Brushing
- Brush at least twice a day: once in the morning and after meals or before going to bed.
- Use a soft toothbrush. A hard one may scratch the enamel.
- Hold brush with bristles at an angle of 45 degrees against the gum line.
- Brush for at least 2 minutes to ensure thorough removal of plaque. Plaque is a thin, sticky layer of bacteria that must be removed daily, or else it becomes tartar, which leads to tooth decay and gum disease.
- Never press your brush hard on the teeth and gums. Be firm yet gentle.
- Practice systematic brushing strokes: start from top then proceed to the bottom. Do not ignore the gums.
- Change toothbrushes when bristles are worn out.
Flossing
- With such a wide variety of floss available, use one that is suitable and comfortable to you.
- Flossing is definitely necessary because it can remove plaque from in between teeth, and no toothbrush can do that.
- Floss gently.
- If gums are weak and start to bleed as you are flossing, do not stop. Continue flossing to get gums used to the procedure. It should improve some days later; if not, do see a dentist.
Rinsing
- Another good way to get rid of bacteria lingering between teeth and gums is to use a rinse that is alcohol-free since alcohol dries the mouth.
Dentures
- Dentures collect plaque and food particles causing bad breath if they are not cleaned.
- Do not wear them to sleep at the end of the day. Let the gum tissues and the jaw bone that support the dentures have their rest.
- Avoid using dentures to bite hard foods such as bones, crab and lobster shells. Dentures will break!
Braces
- Like dentures, braces can also serve as a breeding ground for bacteria.
- Clean regularly with a normal soft toothbrush or an orthodontic toothbrush (if braces are not removable). Pay attention to those areas where the plastic touches the tooth surface.
- Cut food into smaller pieces before chewing. This exerts less pressure on braces.
- Avoid eating candies or sticky foods that are hard such as peanut butter, toffee, nuts and gum.
- If you experience pain or discomfort with your braces, go back to your dentist.
Fixes for teeth & mouth problems
Bad Breath
- Also called Halitosis. Usually caused by food particles found in-between teeth, poor oral hygiene, stress and sulphur (forms a yellowish white film on the tongue). Good oral hygiene habits should settle this problem; if not, discuss with your dentist the other oral treatments available at present.
Cavities
- Caused by acid-producing bacteria and sugar attacking the tooth. The enamel is first dissolved away before the bacteria proceeds deeper into the tooth, resulting in decay. To prevent cavities, brush and floss after every meal and avoid sugary foods.
Gingivitis
- Caused by plaque, it makes gums swell and bleed. Gingivitis ranges from mild to serious. When you are faced with mild gingivitis, the practice of good oral hygiene will solve the problem. Severe gingivitis has been linked to menopause, leukemia, diabetes and premature births; it calls for a dentist's attention.
- U.S. researchers found that daily intakes of Vitamin C (2000mg) and Calcium (1000mg) promote healthy gums.
3516 N. Sherwood Forest Drive
Baton Rouge, LA
70814
Baton Rouge, LA
70814
William R. Sinclair, Jr., D.D.S.
Family Dentistry
Phone: (225) 272-7236
Family Dentistry
Phone: (225) 272-7236
