Dental Care TOOLS
A toothbrush, preferably
soft-bristled, never hard, since it will be used at the gumline as well as on
the teeth
Dental floss
An irrigator, or
water spray, attachable to the bathroom faucet
A small, inexpensive, plastic-handled mouth mirror,
available from your dentist or drugstore
How TO PROCEED
Properly used, a
toothbrush can clean three of the five surfaces of the teeth-chewing, cheek
side and tongue side. Note: A critical, often missed zone is the last
one-sixteenth inch of the tooth at the gum margin. Plaque and bacteria near the
gum as well as on the rest of the tooth must be removed. Direct the brush
bristles gently into the crevice between gum and teeth.
Mildly vibrate brush
handle so bristles do not travel and skip about but can dislodge material in
this area. A soft-bristle brush gently used will do no damage to gum tissue; a
stiff bristle brush may. Next, move brush, applying gentle but firm pressure,
so bristles travel over surface of tooth. Brush upper teeth with a downward
motion; lower, with upward motion.
Brush surfaces next to tongue and surfaces
next to cheek. Then clean the chewing surfaces, brushing across tops of teeth.
Brush at least half a dozen strokes in each area.
Plaque must be
cleaned away from the other two surfaces of the teeth-the sides, or interdental
surfaces. Floss can accomplish this. Cut off a piece of floss 18 to 24 inches
long. Wrap the ends around the forefinger and middle finger of each hand,
leaving the thumbs free. To floss between upper teeth, use thumbs as guide;
hold thumbs about 1 inch apart, keeping floss taut. For lower teeth, use
forefingers as guide, keeping them 1 inch apart.
Slip the floss between each
pair of teeth. Do not try to snap floss through a tight area; work it gently
back and forth until it passes through. Carry the floss to the base of one
tooth, stopping when it is just under the edge of the gum. Scrape the floss up
and down against the side of the tooth until you get a rough or "squeaky"
feeling, which indicates you have broken through the plaque and are actually
touching the tooth. After cleaning the side of one tooth, clean the side of the
adjoining tooth.
After brushing and
flossing, vigorous rinsing will remove dislodged food particles, plaque, and
bacteria. An irrigating spray also helps clean under any bridges or braces and
in gum pockets where brush and floss cannot reach. Place the spray tip in the
mouth pointing toward the tongue and adjust water flow until pressure and
temperature feel good. Move tip so warm water washes spaces between teeth and
between gums and teeth. The spray should not be painful at any time.
