Your Neighborhood Dentist on Hartzel Road - Convenient, Close, Caring.
Dr Bak Dental
Patient Education
Why Flossing is Important for your health
Removes Plaque and Food Particles: Flossing helps remove plaque buildup and food particles from areas between the teeth and along the gumline that a toothbrush cannot reach effectively. These areas are prone to plaque accumulation, which can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath.
Prevents Gum Disease: Flossing is an essential component of preventing gum disease, such as gingivitis and periodontitis. Plaque buildup along the gumline can irritate and inflame the gums, leading to gum disease. Regular flossing helps remove plaque and bacteria, reducing the risk of gum inflammation and maintaining healthy gums.
Reduces Risk of Cavities: Flossing, along with brushing, is vital for preventing cavities. By removing plaque and food debris from between the teeth, flossing helps prevent the development of cavities in these hard-to-reach areas.
Promotes Fresh Breath: Food particles trapped between the teeth can contribute to bad breath. Flossing helps remove these particles, reducing the source of odor-causing bacteria and promoting fresher breath.
Enhances Overall Oral Hygiene: Flossing complements brushing by thoroughly cleaning the entire tooth surface. By incorporating flossing into your oral hygiene routine, you can achieve a higher level of cleanliness, reducing the risk of oral health problems and maintaining optimal oral hygiene.
Helps Maintain Healthy Gums: Flossing stimulates the gums and improves blood circulation, promoting healthy gum tissue. It can help prevent gum recession, gum sensitivity, and gum infections.
Saves Money on Dental Treatments: By practicing regular flossing, you can help prevent oral health problems that may require costly dental treatments in the future. Maintaining good oral hygiene through flossing can help save money on dental procedures, such as fillings, root canals, and gum treatments.
Do’s & Don'ts of Toothbrushing
Do's:
Brush your teeth at least twice a day: Brushing in the morning and before bed helps remove plaque and prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush: Soft bristles effectively clean your teeth without causing damage to the enamel or gums.
Brush for two minutes: Spend at least two minutes brushing your teeth to ensure thorough cleaning of all tooth surfaces.
Use fluoride toothpaste: Fluoride helps strengthen tooth enamel and protect against cavities.
Angle your brush properly: Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle towards the gumline to clean both the teeth and gums.
Brush gently and in circular motions: Use gentle pressure and circular motions to clean all tooth surfaces, including the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces.
Clean your tongue: Gently brush your tongue or use a tongue scraper to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.
Rinse your toothbrush after use: Rinse your toothbrush thoroughly with water after brushing to remove any remaining toothpaste or debris.
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Don'ts:
Don't brush too hard: Avoid aggressive brushing as it can damage tooth enamel and irritate the gums, leading to gum recession and sensitivity.
Don't forget to replace your toothbrush regularly: Replace your toothbrush or toothbrush head every three to four months or sooner if the bristles become frayed or worn.
Don't share toothbrushes: Sharing toothbrushes can lead to the transfer of bacteria and increase the risk of infections.
Don't neglect the gumline: Pay special attention to the gumline while brushing to remove plaque and prevent gum disease.
Don't rush: Take your time while brushing to ensure thorough cleaning of all tooth surfaces.
Don't use a toothbrush with hard bristles: Hard-bristled toothbrushes can be abrasive and cause enamel wear and gum damage.
Don't swallow toothpaste: Spit out the toothpaste after brushing to avoid ingesting excessive fluoride.
Don't keep your toothbrush in a closed container: Allow your toothbrush to air dry between uses to prevent bacterial growth.
Why Grinding your teeth is a problem
Dental Damage: The continuous grinding and clenching of teeth can lead to excessive wear and tear on the tooth surfaces. This can result in enamel erosion, chipping, cracking, or even tooth fractures. Over time, severe grinding may require dental treatments such as fillings, crowns, or even tooth extraction.
Jaw Pain and Discomfort: Bruxism often leads to jaw pain, facial soreness, headaches, and earaches. The excessive pressure exerted on the jaw joint (temporomandibular joint or TMJ) due to grinding can cause temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). TMD can lead to difficulty in opening or closing the mouth, jaw muscle stiffness, and even lockjaw.
Sleep Disruption: Many individuals grind their teeth during sleep, and this can disturb their own sleep as well as their bed partner's sleep. The grinding noise can be loud and disruptive, leading to poor quality of sleep, daytime fatigue, and sleep disorders like sleep apnea.
Gum Problems: The continuous grinding motion can also affect the gums, causing gum recession, tenderness, and increased sensitivity. Gum recession exposes the tooth roots, making them more prone to tooth decay and tooth sensitivity.
TMJ Disorders: Bruxism is strongly associated with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD). The excessive pressure and repetitive motion during grinding can strain the TMJ, leading to pain, limited jaw movement, and difficulty in eating or speaking.
Facial Muscle Hypertrophy: Chronic teeth grinding can cause hypertrophy or overdevelopment of the jaw muscles, leading to a more square-shaped face. This can impact one's appearance and facial symmetry.