Oral Hygiene

Why is oral hygiene so important?

At Wall Family Dentistry, we believe that a healthy smile starts with strong oral hygiene. Taking care of your teeth and gums isn’t just about fresh breath or a sparkling smile – it’s essential to your overall health and well-being. 

Daily brushing and flossing removes plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that builds up on teeth. If left untreated, plaque can lead to cavities, gingivitis, and periodontitis. These issues can cause pain, tooth loss, and even affect the bone structure of your jaw. Adults over 35 lose more teeth to gum diseases (periodontal disease) than from cavities. 

Research continues to show a strong connection between oral health and systematic health. Poor oral hygiene has been linked to serious conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory infections. Keeping your mouth healthy with daily brushing and flossing can help reduce your risk for these and other medical issues. 

How to Brush

If you have any pain while brushing or have any questions about how to brush properly, please be sure to call the office at (262) 691-1670.

  • Use a soft to medium bristled toothbrush
  • Position your toothbrush at a 45- degree angle where your teeth meet your gums
  • Use small, circular motions with gentle pressure to clean the outer surfaces of your teeth
  • Continue the same technique on the inside surfaces, especially the back teeth
  • Clean the chewing surfaces with short, light strokes
  • Move the toothbrush as needed to reach every surface
  • Finish by rinsing thoroughly to wash away and loosened plaque. 

How to Floss

Toothbrushes cannot reach all areas between your teeth- especially below the gumline. Flossing is crucial for removing plaque from these hard to reach spots and preventing gum disease. 

  • Use about 18 inches of dental floss
  • Wrap most of the floss around the middle finger of one hand and the rest around the middle finger of the other
  • For your upper teeth, hold the floss tighlty between your thumbs and index fingers
  • Gently slide the floss between the teeth using a back and forth motion
  • Curve the floss into a C- shape against one tooth and gently move it up and down below the gumline
  • Repeat for the opposite tooth in the same space
  • As the floss becomes used, switch to a clean section
  • For lower teeth ghuide the floss using your index fingers
  • Don’t forget to floss the back side of your last molars 
  • Rinse well when you are done to remove loosened plaque and food particles. 

Caring for Sensitive Teeth

Sometimes after dental treatment, teeth are sensitive to hot and cold. This should not last long, but only if the mouth is kept clean. If the mouth is not kept clean the sensitivity will remain and could become more severe. If your teeth are especially sensitive consult with your doctor. They may recommend a medicated toothpaste or mouth rinse made especially for sensitive teeth.

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.

Automatic and high-tech 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 Rotadent and Interplak.

Some toothbrushes have a rubber tip on the handle, this is used to massage the gums after brushing. There are also tiny brushes (interproximal toothbrushes) that clean between your teeth. If these are used improperly you could injure the gums, so discuss proper use with your doctor.

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.

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. Your visit to our office is an important part of your program to prevent gum disease. Keep your teeth for your lifetime.